Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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WASTE DISPOSAL DEVICE
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
[0001] This invention relates generally to waste disposal devices using
flexible tubing and,
more particularly, to improved waste disposal devices for use in sanitary and
odorless
packaging and disposal of medical waste (such as, for example, gloves, gauze
or any other
waste which occurs in, for example, a doctor's office or hospital), industrial
waste, diapers
and any other waste wherein sanitary and/or substantially odorless disposal is
desired.
2. Description of the Related Technolorv
[0002] Small waste disposal devices are common in hospitals, docton* offices
and other
locations where waste is generated and must be disposed of in a sanitary
manner. Father, if
the waste emits odors, the waste disposal device should also contain odors
emanating from
the waste.
[0003] Several waste disposal devices are disclosed in U.S. Pat No. 6,612,099,
6,804,930,
6,851,251 and 7,146,785.
. .
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] It is an object of some embodiments of the present invention to provide
new and
improved waste disposal devices, io.particular for use in the disposal of
disposable medical
wastes, industrial waste and diapers.
[0005] It is another object of some embodiments of the present invention to
provide
improved waste disposal devices for the medical and health care industries for
use in, for
example, hospitals, doctors' offices, operating rooms, nursing homes, out-
patient care and the
home health care industry for disposal of non "sharps" including adult
diapers, bloody/soiled
bandages, dressings, disposable bibs, "chucks" and clothing, medical gloves
and dialysis
machine filters and other disposal medical waste.
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[0006] In order to achieve at least one of these objects and others, a waste
disposal device
in accordance with the invention includes a container defining a waste chamber
for receiving
waste, a support member arranged in the container for supporting tubing having
a closed or
closable front end to thereby enable formation of a bag in the container, and
a twisting
assembly arranged in the container and defining an aperture through which the
tubing passes
while the twisting assembly engages with the tubing. The tubing support member
is stationary
and a rotation mechanism is provided to rotate the twisting assembly relative
to the stationary
support member while the twisting assembly engages with the tubing to thereby
form a twist
in the tubing.
[0007] The rotation mechanism is preferably actuated after each waste
insertion to form a
twist after the waste is inserted and thereby prevents odors from the inserted
waste from
leaving the container. For example, the rotation mechanism may be actuated
upon closure of
the lid so that whenever the lid is closed, a twist is formed above the
inserted waste.
[0008] The twisting assembly may have different forms, its essential purpose
being to
interact with the rotation mechanism to receive rotational force therefrom and
interact with
the tubing to grasp it so that when the twisting assembly is rotated, the
grasped tubing is also
rotated, relative to the stationary support member which causes the formation
of the twist in
the tubing.
[0009] These and various other advantages and features of novelty that
characterize the
invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed hereto and
forming a part
hereof. However, for a better understanding of the invention, its advantages,
and the objects
obtained by its use, reference should be made to the drawings which form a
further part
hereof, and to the accompanying descriptive matter, in which there is
illustrated and described
a preferred embodiment of the invention.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[00010] FIG. 1 is perspective view of a waste disposal device in accordance
with the
invention shown in an open position and with a first type of tubing support
member shown
separated from the device.
[00011] FIG. 2 is perspective view of a waste disposal device in accordance
with the
invention shown in an open position and with a second type of tubing support
member shown
separated from the device.
[00012] FIG. 3 is perspective view of a waste disposal device in accordance
with the
invention shown in an open position with the tubing support member in its
operational
position.
[00013] FIG. 4 is a view through an access door of the waste disposal device
in accordance
with the invention.
[00014] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a portion of the waste disposal device
in accordance
with the invention.
[00015] FIG. 6 is an enlarged, top perspective view of a membrane of a
twisting assembly
used in a waste disposal device in accordance with the invention.
[00016] FIG. 7 is an enlarged, bottom perspective view of a membrane of a
twisting
assembly used in a waste disposal device in accordance with the invention.
[00017] FIG. 8 is a view, partly broken away of a second embodiment of a waste
disposal
device in accordance with the invention.
[00018] FIG. 9 is a top perspective view of another embodiment of a twisting
assembly for
use in waste disposal devices in accordance with the invention.
[00019] FIG. 10 is a bottom perspective view of the twisting assembly shown in
FIG. 9.
[00020] FIG. 11 shows the inside of a bag formed from the tubing in accordance
with the
invention.
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[00021] FIG. 12 shows an exterior view of the bag of FIG. 11.
[00022] PIG. 13 is a partial view of the upper portion of the bag of FIG. 11.
[00023] FIG. 14 shows a handle formed from the tubing support member.
DETAELED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED ElV1130DIMENT(S1
[000241 Referring to the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals
refer to
the same or similar elements, FIGS. 1-5 show a first embodiment of a waste
disposal device
in accordance with the invention which is designated generally as 10 and is,
to some extent, a
modification of the waste disposal device shown in FIGS. 43-49 of U.S. Pat.
No. 7,146,785.
Thus, any features and functions not specifically mentioned below may be
understood by
reference to the disclosure of this waste disposal device in the '785 patent.
[000251 Waste disposal device 10 includes a substantially cylindrical
container 12 having an
outer wall and a base arranged at the lower end of the outer wall. An access
door is formed in
the outer wall and pivots about hinges to enable access to an interior waste-
receiving chamber
of the container 12 in which a pail may be placed to receive a bag which will
be filled with
waste during use of the waste disposal device 10. A closure mechanism is
provided to secure
the door in a closed position. A lid 14 is pivotally connected to the outer
wall so as to be
movable between an open position. in which waste insertion opening is exposed
to enable
insertion of waste into the container 12 and a closed position in which the
lid 14 overlies and
closes the waste insertion opening.
[00026] A general feature of wage disposal device 10, and other waste disposal
devices
disclosed herein, is that there is rotation of a mechanism which engages with
the tubing
relative to a stationary support or cartridge which supports or retains the
tubing into which the
waste is placed to thereby cause the formation of a twist in the tubing.
Rotation of this
mechanism would occur after insertion of waste to thereby form a twist above
the inserted
waste and inhibit release of odors from the waste.
[00021 To implement this technique, a twisting assembly 16 is movably seated
on a support
flange 18 of the container 12 and includes a twisting member 20. Twisting
member 20
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includes a substantially tubular outer wall 22, a substantially tubular inner
wall 24, a
substantially planar bottom support wall 26 and a circular gear rim 28
adjoining the outer wall
22 and on which projections 30 are formed (see FIG. 5). The bottom support
wall 26 is not
contiguous between the outer and inner walls 22, 24 and apertures may be
foirried therein (see
FIG. 4). The gear rim 28 and its projections 30 may be fourred integral or
unitary with the
twisting member 20 or separate therefrom and then attached thereto.
[00028] The twisting assembly 16 also includes a grasping member such as a
membrane 32
arranged to engage with tubing. When the twisting assembly 16 is rotated, the
engagement of
the membrane 32 with the tubing causes the tubing to be twisted, i.e., form a
twist in the
tubing. The engagement of the tubing with the membrane 32 arises since the
tubing passes
through one or more of the slots 34 between fingers 36 of the membrane 32 (see
FIGS. 6 and
7). The slots 34 define an aperture through which the tubing passes. Note that
the tubing
may pass through only one slot 34, or only partially through one slot, or only
partially through
two or more slots, or only through the center at the intersection of the
slots, and the exact
manner depends on the actual use of the waste disposal device 10.
[00029] An aperture, through which the tubing passes, may be formed in the
membrane 32
by other means, including, barely discernible small slits extending from a
frame supporting
the outer edge of the membrane 32 to a center. The membrane 32 may be formed
and
constructed in different ways and is not limited to the presence of six
fingers 36 separated by
slots 34 as in the illustrated embodiment. The material of the fingers 36 may
be selected to be
flexible so that they flex downward in a direction away from the center when a
person pushes
waste through the central region of the membrane 32. The material of the
fingers 36 should
also be resilient so that the fingers 36 return to their initial form after
the person has removed
their hand from engagement with the membrane 32, or the inserted waste has
been pushed
downward through the membrane 32 and is no longer in engagement therewith.
[00030] For example, the membrane 32 may be made of silicone or another
rubbery material.
It may also be made of a flexible synthetic material which flexes under
pressure and returns
when pressure is removed. The tubing passing through the slots 34 may tend to
flex the
fingers 36 downward but the fingers 36 will still remain in engagement with
the tubing and
enable it to be twisted in the manner described below upon rotation of the
membrane 32.
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[00031] The edges of the fingers 36 which are expected to engage the tubing
may be
provided with a friction-enhancing material to increase the contact force
between the fingers
36 and the tubing.
[00032] Membrane 32 may be formed integral with the twisting member 20 or
separate
therefrom and then attached thereto. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, the
membrane 32 may
include an annular channel on its underside which frictionally engages with an
annular
projection on the twisting member 20. Friction between the projection on the
twisting
member 20 and the edges of the channel on the membrane 32 enables the membrane
32 to be
securely retained on the twisting member 20 and thus rotated upon and in
conjunction with
rotation of the twisting member 20. Any other structure for fixing the
membrane 32 to the
twisting member 20 to enable them to rotate together may also be used.
[00033] Instead of the membrane 32, another form of a grasping member may be
used. The
general function of such a grasping member is to engage with the tubing as the
tubing passes
by it and is capable of twisting the tubing when rotated. For example, the
grasping member
may be a circular frame having fingers extending inwardly therefrom, or have
the structure
disclosed in the above-mentioned patents.
[00034] A rotation mechanism 38 is provided to rotate the twisting assembly
16, and may
have the form shown in FIGS. 43-49 of the '785 patent or in any of the other
embodiments
shown or disclosed therein, or in the above-mentioned patents.
[00035] For example, the rotation mechanism 38 in the illustrated embodiment
includes an
elongate rack gear 40 attached to the lid 14 and having a series of teeth on
at least portion of a
longitudinally extending surface, and a gear assembly 42 arranged on the
container 12 (see
FIG. 5). The upper end of the rack gear 40 includes a slot 44 in which a pin
46 mounted to
projections 48 on the inner side of the lid 14 moves. As the lid 14 is closed,
the pin 46 moves
forward in the slot 44 and forces the rack gear 40 downward.
[00036] Gear assembly 42 includes a plurality of gears, one of which is in
meshing
engagement with the rack gear 40, one of which is in meshing engagement with
the
projections 30 on the rim gear 28 of the twisting member 20 (which gear is
referred to as a
drive gear), and one or more optional intermediate gears which transfer the
rotation of the
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gear meshing with the rack gear 40 to the drive gear. Gear assembly 42 also
includes an
appropriate mechanism for enabling one-way transmission of rotational force
from the rack
gear 40 to the drive gear. Such mechanisms are disclosed in the '785 patent.
Other gear
assemblies including more or less gears than shown can also be used to convert
the downward
movement of the rack gear 40 into rotational movement of the drive gear in
only a single
direction. For example, a bevel gear may be used.
[00037] Thus, in operation, when the lid 14 is closed, the rack gear 40 is
moved downward
causing rotation of the gears in the gear assembly 42 and ultimately rotation
of the drive gear.
The twisting member 20 is thus caused to rotate in view of the engagement
between the
projections 30 on the gear rim 28 and the drive gear. As such, the closing
movement of the
lid 14 is converted into rotational movement of the twisting member 20.
[00038] Other mechanisms for converting movement of the lid 14 (whether
closure of the lid
14 or opening of the lid 14) into rotational movement of the twisting member
20 are also
contemplated within the scope of the invention and include those rotation
mechanisms
described in the '785 patent.
[00039] An alternative rotation mechanism is shown in FIG. 8 and may include a
motor 72
actuated by a pushbutton 74 to cause a drive gear 76 of the motor 72, and
which is in meshing
engagement with the projections 30 on the rim gear 28, to rotate and thereby
cause rotation of
the twisting assembly 16. The motor 72 may be fixed to the container 12, e.g.,
to the side
wall thereof. Although the pushbutton 76 would only be accessible when the lid
is open 14, it
is also possible to place the pushbutton on the outer surface of the container
12 or lid 14 so
that it is depressible even when the lid 14 is closed.
[00040] Additional rotation mechanisms are disclosed in the '785 patent which
do not
require actuation based on closure of the lid 14 or pressing a button. For
example, a motor
may be provided and a sensor system provided which detects insertion of waste
and thereafter
causes actuation of the rotation mechanism.
[00041] A cartridge 50 of flexible tubing is arranged in an annular cavity 52
defined by the
outer wall 22, inner wall 24 and bottom support wall 26 of the twisting member
20. Cartridge
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50 is seated in the cavity 52 so that the twisting member 20 can move while
the cartridge 50
remains stationary.
[00042] In order to provide for rotation of the twisting member 20 relative to
the stationary
cartridge 50 and thus the formation of a twist in the tubing in the slot(s) 34
between the
fingers 36 of the membrane 32 (and which is engaged by the fingers 36), a
mechanism for
preventing rotation of the cartridge 50 is preferably provided. The anti-
rotation mechanism or
rotation preventing mechanism may be as in any of the embodiments described in
the '785
patent. For example, cartridge 50 could be provided with a plurality of
indentations, e.g.,
four, six, eight, that receive projections on the housing of the container 12
(see FIG. 3
wherein such projections extend inward from the inner surface of the container
12 above the
annular ledge on which the gear rim 28 rests).
[00043] Prior to use, the waste disposal device 10 is prepared by inserting
the cartridge 50
and pushing a closed, front end of the tubing through the slots 34. Then, in
use, the lid 14 is
opened to expose the waste insertion opening. A load of waste is placed
through the
membrane 32, which is possible in view of the flexibility of the fingers 36
and the presence of
the slots 34 therebetween, and into a bag formed by the flexible tubing in
cartridge 50. The
lid 14 is then closed causing the rack gear 40 to rotate the gear assembly 42
and ultimately the
drive gear. Rotation of the drive gear, which is in meshed engagement with the
projections
30 on the gear rim 28 of the twisting member 20, will cause rotation of the
twisting assembly
16. Rotation of the twisting assembly 16 while the tubing passes through the
slot(s) 34 of the
membrane 32 and engages therewith will cause the tubing to be twisted and
thereby form a
twist above the inserted waste.
[00044] Successive waste insertions would be placed into the bag formed by the
tubing in a
similar manner. Although any previously formed twists may not be maintained
and the
tubing may untwist, the formation of a new twist will effectively serve to
seal in any odors
and close the bag anew after each waste insertion. The twist is not
intentionally untwisted
since the membrane 32 is prevented from rotating in the opposite direction in
view of the
construction of the gear assembly 42 or another part of the rotation
mechanism. The end
result will be the presence of a bag formed by the tubing and including
numerous waste
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insertions altogether in a common space defined by the bag. Thus, there will
not be a series
of encapsulated waste packages.
[00045] Another embodiment of a twisting assembly is shown in FIGS. 9 and 10
and is
designated generally as 56. Twisting assembly 56 defines a cavity 58 into
which the cartridge
50 may be placed. Twisting assembly 56 includes a twisting member 60 having a
tubular
outer wall 62, a tubular inner wall 64 and a bottom support wall 66. A series
of projections
68 are formed on the underside of the bottom support wall 66 (see FIG. 10). A
grasping
member such as membrane 32 is attached to the twisting member 60 and more
specifically,
above the inner wall 64 and held in place by retention springs 70 situated
inward of the
projections 68, and preferably around the entire circumference of the membrane
32. Other
means for holding the membrane 32 in connection with the twisting member 60
may also be
used, including those discussed above.
[00046] In this embodiment, the drive gear of the gear assembly 42 or the
drive gear 76
connected to the motor 74 would engage with the projections 68 so that
rotation of the drive
gear would cause rotation of the twisting member 60 and thus the membrane 32
attached
thereto. The cartridge 50 would be held stationary by any appropriate anti-
rotation
mechanism, for example, those disclosed in the '785 patent.
[00047] This embodiment can also be used with an alternative rotation
mechanism which
includes a U-shaped rack gear assembly. The U-shaped rack gear assembly
includes a
U-shaped frame which is coupled to the lid 14 at the upper ends of the U-shape
and rack gear
on the inside surface of one leg of the U-shaped frame. The rotation mechanism
includes a
gear assembly having one gear in meshing engagement with the rack gear and one
gear in
meshing engagement with the projections 68 (the drive gear), and then
optionally one or more
gears interposed between the gear in engagement with the rack gear and the
drive gear.
[00048] The cartridge 50 may be formed as shown in FIGS. 13A-13E of the '785
patent.
However, it is envisioned that the stack of tubing in the cartridge 50 would
not be the same
size as that in the cartridges shown in the '785 patent because by avoiding
forming a series of
encapsulated waste packages, significantly less tubing is required. Rather,
the amount of
tubing necessary may only be slightly larger than the height of the container
12.
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[00049] In one embodiment, the tubing is formed to have a wider cross-
sectional area in that
portion which will be situated in the waste-receiving chamber of the container
12 than in the
area around the cartridge 50 itself (see FIGS. 11 and 12). This may be
accomplished by
bunching up the tubing at the cartridge 50.
[00050] The cartridge 50, without the tubing, may be formed entirely of
cardboard or plastic
or another material and designed to be foldable about a linear weakened
region, e.g., a score
line, to allow for folding of a part of the cartridge 50 onto itself. In this
case, the cartridge 50
could be used as a handle for the bag of waste formed by the insertion of the
waste into the
tubing during use of the waste disposal device 10. After the container 12 is
full of waste, the
cartridge 50 would be folded about the weakened region and the handle inserted
through the
membrane 32 so that the handle can be grasped upon opening the access door.
The bag of
waste is therefore easily handled and disposed of into a larger waste
container.
[00051] In one embodiment, it is envisioned that the cartridge 50 would not
have a stack of
flexible tubing but rather only a bag (tubing with a closed, front end) would
be attached at the
open end to the cartridge 50 and may be entirely extended into the container
12 prior to the
first use of the waste disposal device 10. This bag may be formed as described
above with a
wider cross-sectional area in that portion to be situate din the waste-
receiving chamber of the
container 12 and a smaller cross-sectional area around the cartridge 50. As
such, the cartridge
50 may be considered as a tubing support member. In this case, the tubing
support member
54, shown in FIG. 2, may include only upper and lower annular walls, possibly
having the
same dimensions, and the rear end of the tubing retained between the upper and
lower walls.
These upper and lower walls may be formed entirely of cardboard.
Alternatively, a tubing
support member 54 may include only a single wall which supports the rear end
of the tubing.
The front end of the tubing is closable or closed to thereby enable the
formation of a bag in
the container 12.
[00052] FIGS. 11-14 show additional details of a tubing assembly 78 in
accordance with the
invention which includes a tubing support member 54 and tubing 80. FIG. 11
shows the
inside of a bag 82 foimed from the tubing 80 having a twist 84 and a plurality
of waste
insertions 86. The rear edge of the tubing 80 is fixed between a pair of
circular supports 88
foluting the tubing support member 54. Note that a single circular support may
be provided
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and the tubing attached to this singular circular support. The circular
supports 88 have
substantially the same outer dimensions and substantially the same size
aperture therein.
Also, the circular supports 88 may be attached directed to one another along
an outer
periphery while the tubing 80 is sandwiched between the circular supports 88
along their
inner periphery.
[00053] FIG. 12 shows what the bag 82 would appear like when viewed from the
outside.
FIG. 13 is a partial view of the upper portion of the bag 82 showing the
weakened 10 sections
90 on the circular supports 88.
[00054] FIG. 14 shows the formation of a handle 92 from the circular supports
88 after they
are folded about the weakened sections 90. The folded portions of the circular
supports 88
may be attached together to form the handle 92 using any type of connection
means, e.g.,
hook and loop-type fasteners and adhesives. In the latter case, an arcuate
strip of adhesive
with a removable cover strip may be applied to the upper surface of the
circular support 88 on
one side of the weakened sections 90 and then when it is desired to form the
handle 92, the
cover strip is removed and the adhesive exposed and adhered to the upper
surface of the
circular support 88 on the other side of the weakened sections 90.
[00055] The length of the tubing 80, i.e., the extension of the bag 82 from
the region around
the supports 88 to the front closed end of the bag 82, may be in a range from
about 22 inches
to about 36 inches. This length, which substantially corresponds to the height
of the bag 82
formed from the tubing 80, may depend on the height of the container 12, and
for this range,
it assumed to be about 22-24 inches. Of course, for a larger container 12, a
larger bag 82
would be used, i.e., a larger length of tubing 80 would be attached to the
supports 88.
[00056] It is contemplated that the tubing support member 54 and attached
tubing 80 would
have a single use construction and would be disposed of when desired,
regardless of whether
the bag 82 formed from the tubing 80 is full or not.
[00057] In its sale condition, the tubing support member 54 may have the
tubing 80 folded
and attached thereto. The user would then have to place the tubing support
member 54 into
the cavity in the twisting assembly 16, 56 and then push the closed front end
of the bag 82
formed from the tubing 80 into the interior of the container 12. The tubing 80
may either be
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formed with a closure at the front end, as disclosed in the '785 patent, or
require the user to
manually tie the front end of the tubing 80 into a knot. In the latter case,
the height of the
tubing 80 may be larger than the height of the container 12 to allow for the
formation of the
knot at the front end.
[00058] Waste disposal device 10 may be used for any type of waste, including
but not
limited to medical waste from hospitals, doctors' offices, home health care
personnel and
facilities, nursing homes, biohazard laboratories, and the like. The waste
disposal device 10
may also be used for personal hygiene such as for disposing of soiled diapers.
[00059] An advantage of the invention over waste disposal devices, such as
disclosed in the
'785 patent, and which are used to form a series of encapsulated waste
packages is that
significantly less tubing is used since each waste insertion is not
individually encapsulated.
Rather, there is a common bag formed from the tubing and multiple waste
insertions are
placed into this bag. Since less tubing is required, the cartridge 50 may be
quite thin in
comparison to cartridges used in waste disposal devices that form a series of
encapsulated
waste packages.
[00060] It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous
characteristics and
advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing
description, together
with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is
illustrative only,
and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size and
arrangement of
parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by
the broad general
meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.
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