EP3590869B1

EP3590869B1 - Trash bag assembly for smart trash receptacle, trash bag assembly locator and smart trash receptacle

Info

Publication number: EP3590869B1
Application number: EP19162665.4A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Jianxiang LI
Original assignee: Shanghai Townew Intelligent Technology Co Ltd
Current assignee: Shanghai Townew Intelligent Technology Co Ltd
Priority date: 2018-07-03
Filing date: 2019-03-13
Publication date: 2023-06-28
Anticipated expiration: 2039-03-13
Also published as: JP2020007152A; EP3590869A1; CN115583449A; EP3590869C0; CN108974704A

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to the field of smart trash receptacles and, in particular, to a trash bag assembly for smart trash receptacle , trash bag assembly locator and smart trash receptacle.

BACKGROUND

With the advancement of technology and the improvement of people's living standards, smart homes are increasingly becoming an indispensable part of our lives. At present, smart trash receptacles have been a focus of people's attention thanks to their characteristics of cleanliness, sanitariness and convenience of use.
In the prior art, the degree of automation of smart trash receptacle is getting higher and higher, but fully-automatic trash bag fitting and bagging is far from perfect. The reason is that: fully-automatic trash bag fitting and bagging depends on the cooperation of various structural factors, such as: automatic trash bag fitting device, bagging device, trash bags suitable for automatic fitting and bagging, trash bag storage device, etc. Imperfection of any one of these factors could not realize the fully-automatic trash bag fitting and bagging.
For trash bags, at present, trash bags commonly available in the marketplace include: flat-top bags, vest-style carrier bags and drawstring bags. Most of them are packaged in the form of rolls, while there are also some vest-style carrier bags folded into flat pieces as well as a minority of trash bags of the draw-out type. In spite of some common advantages such as package compactness and low manufacturing cost, these existing trash bags are disadvantageous in that their extraction and placement cannot be accomplished with simple mechanical means due to the very flexible nature of plastic materials from which they are fabricated, thus necessitating human intervention for replenishing a new trash bag into the trash receptacle. Moreover, although a trash bag has a nominal maximum storage capacity, in order to enable bagging, it usually has to be closed before the amount of trash deposited therein reaches the maximum capacity (typically when the former is 2/3 the latter). Otherwise, the trash bag cannot be adequately tied up, which is unfavorable to disposal of the contained trash because the trash bag closed in this way is apt to be accidentally opened when an environmental worker handles it, tending to cause scattering of the trash. This will not only harm the environment but will also lead to waste of trash bag resources. With drawstring trash bags as an ex-ample, while they allow relatively high capacity utilization, due to the limited capacities, they could not accommodate large trash items. In addition, they require manual fitting and are barely suitable for automatic fitting.
For trash bag storage device, at present, trash receptacles commonly available in the marketplace have no special device for trash bag storage, only a small part of trash receptacles equipped with storage device for rolled trash bags at the bottom or outside of the trash receptacles, which is far from meeting the needs of the fully-automatic trash bag fitting and bagging.
Therefore, how to store trash bags so as to allow their fully-automatic fitting and bagging by simple mechanical means, and how to further increase the degree of automation and intelligence of smart trash receptacles remain critical technical problems sought to be solved by those skilled in the art.
However, improvements for smart trash receptacles have been suggested by the prior art. CN 206 013 572 U discloses a breakpoint free trash bag automatic replacement device, wherein electrical and mechanical components of the replacement device are installed on a top cover of a trash bag storage rack. CN 107 934 278 A and CN 207 226 181 U each disclose similar smart trash receptacles. WO 2012/109756 A1 discloses a waste-disposal system for film-dispensing units with a storage body and a lid. US 9 085 404 B2 discloses a cassette for dispensing pleated tubing for trash bags, the cassette comprising an annular body and an annular cover. In each of the trash bag assemblies disclosed in WO 2012/1909756 A1 and US-9 085 404 B2 , cover and rack or lid and body, respectively, are connected by snaps, rather than being pivotably connected. US 7 992 742 B1 discloses a refuse receptacle with a spring bias arrangement. US 9 745 127 B1 discloses an insert assembly configured to fit into waste disposal devices.

SUMMARY

In order to address the above problems to at least some extent, it is a first object of the present invention to provide a trash bag assembly suited to use in a smart trash receptacle, which is capable of fully-automatic trash bag fitting and bagging and can thus impart to the trash receptacle a higher degree of automation and intelligence.
A trash bag assembly for a smart trash receptacle with the features of claim 1 comprises:

a storage body defining both a first opening allowing the passage of trash and an annular trough extending externally around the first opening and configured to receive a trash bag; and
a lid defining a second opening corresponding to the first opening, the lid being configured to cover an open end of the annular trough so as to form, together with one side wall of the annular trough, a gap serving as a bag exit.

According to the invention, the trash bag assembly further comprises the trash bag which is a tubular structure having a continuous internal lumen extending throughout its entire length and two ends, one of which is open and the other is closed, and the trash bag is configured to be reciprocally folded into an annulus so as to be disposed within the annular trough.
Preferably, the side wall of the annular trough that defines the bag exit has a flared edge that is curved outwardly away from the annular trough.
According to the invention, the open end of the annular trough is open in the same direction in which the first opening extends, and the annular trough has an inner side wall proximate the first opening and an outer side wall away from the first opening.
According to the invention, the lid has an inner edge forming the gap together with the inner side wall and an outer edge connected to the outer side wall.
According to the invention, the outer edge of the lid is pivotably connected at one side edge to the outer side wall of the annular trough.
Preferably, the lid defines a lip at the outer edge, which forms an interference fit with the outer side wall of the annular trough or is fastened thereto by snap-on means.
Preferably, the snap-on means comprise a recess and a block in cooperation with the recess, one of which is provided on an internal side of the lip and the other on the outer side wall of the annular trough.
Preferably, both the storage body and the lid are square annuli with chamfered corners.
Preferably, both the storage body and the lid are metal, plastic or paper components.
It is a second object of the present invention to provide a smart trash receptacle comprising the trash bag assembly as defined in any one of the above paragraphs.
The technical solution provided by the present invention offers the following beneficial effects:
The trash bag assembly can be suitably used in a smart trash receptacle so as to help in achieving fully-automatic trash bag fitting and bagging capabilities, and can thus impart a higher degree of automation and intelligence. Moreover, it can effectively prevent damage to the trash bag during its manufacturing, storage and transportation. As the annular trough may be sized differently according to the usage frequency and deployment place of the trash receptacle, the mass of the trash bag stored therein and its bagging length can be easily adjusted to promote resource conservation. Further, trash bag replenishment can be more easily accomplished with improved efficiency.
As the trash bag assembly is an integral structure that can be easily assembled, its manufacturing and assembly can be achieved at lower cost.
The so constructed storage body and the lid can not only restrict the freedom of movement of the trash bag to only one direction, but can also maintain the trash bag in an always open configuration, thus dispensing with the need to open the trash bag during the automatic trash bag fitting process. As a result, a significantly simpler automatic trash bag fitting and bagging approach allowing easy implementation and operation is entailed.
The trash bag assembly can hold more trash substantially without restrictions. Moreover, the trash bag can be sealed and closed at any desired portion, depending on the amount of trash deposited therein, with the remaining length still available for further use. Thus, full utilization of its capacity can be achieved without waste of trash bag resources, and trash bag bagging and replacement can be performed in an automated fashion, increasing the degree of automation and intelligence of the present smart trash receptacle.
Preferably, the storage body is integral with a body of the smart trash receptacle.
Preferably, the smart trash receptacle further include a trash bag assembly locator, wherein the trash bag assembly includes a trash bag container for trash bag storage, the trash bag container is disposed within the main body of the smart trash receptacle. The trash bag container has a third opening for the passage of trash.
The trash bag assembly locator includes a container retainer on which the trash bag container is supported, the container retainer disposed within the main body of the smart trash receptacle.
Further, the container retainer defines a fourth opening corresponding to the third opening, the main body defines a channel for the passage thereof.
It is easy for those skilled in the art to understand that the trash bag container is composed by the storage body and the lid. The trash bag container is an integral structure of the type considered to be composed of a lid and a storage body single integral piece, namely the lid is pivotably connected at one side edge to the storage body, thus forms an integration therewith.
Preferably, the channel is defined in an upper portion of the main body
Preferably, the channel is defined in a lateral portion of the main body
Preferably, the container retainer and the main body is provided as a single integral piece.
Preferably, the container retainer and the main body is provided as separate pieces.
Preferably, the container retainer is implemented as an annular trough structure extending along an inner circumference of the main body, and the trash bag container is deposed in the annular trough structure.
Preferably, a card ejector mechanism is disposed between the container retainer and the main body. The container retainer is able to be ejected from the channel or latched therein by the card ejector mechanism.
Or, a motor-driven ejector mechanism is disposed between the container retainer and the main body. The motor-driven ejector mechanism includes a motor and a transmission gear coupled to the motor. The motor is able to push the container retainer out by means of the transmission gear.
Preferably, the trash bag assembly locator further includes a press cover for securing the trash bag container. The press cover is configured to be pressed over the trash bag container and may define a fifth opening corresponding to both the third opening and the fourth opening, and the press cover is detachably connected to the main body.
Preferably, an attractive fastener is disposed between the press cover and the main body.
Preferably, the attractive fastener is a strongly magnetically attractive fastener;
The strongly magnetically attractive fastener including a first magnet disposed on the press cover and a second magnet in the main body of the trash receptacle. The press cover is pressed over the trash bag container as a result of a magnetic attraction between the first and second magnets; or,
The strongly magnetically attractive fastener may be a magnet and a iron block, which attract each other and enable the press cover be pressed over the trash bag container. One of the magnet and the iron block may be defined in the press cover, and the other may be defined in the main body.
The technical solution provided by the present invention offers the following beneficial effects:
Conventionally, when the current trash bag is used up, a new trash bag could be loaded in a storage space in the trash bag container retainer only after the latter is disassembled from the main body. After doing so, the trash bag container retainer must be again assembled with the trash receptacle. This disassembly/assembly cycle is a tedious, time-consuming and laborious process.
The trash bag assembly locator disclosed by this invention, the main body is provided with a container retainer on which the trash bag container is supported. Upon the trash bag being used up, the replenishment can be accomplished simply by replacing the emptied trash bag container with another trash bag container loaded with a new trash bag, without the need for dismantlement of the trash bag container retainer. It solves the conventional problem above mentioned.
It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the present application.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 is a structural view of a trash bag assembly for a smart trash receptacle according to embodiment 1 of the present invention.
Fig. 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a trash bag assembly according to embodiment 1 of the present invention.
Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of a trash bag assembly according to embodiment 1 of the present invention.
Fig. 4 shows a first folded configuration of a trash bag according to embodiment 1 of the present invention.
Fig. 5 shows a second folded configuration of a trash bag according to embodiment 1 of the present invention.
Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a trash bag assembly according to embodiment 2 of the present invention.
Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing a first alternative embodiment of a trash bag assembly locator according to the present invention.
Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing a second alternative embodiment of a trash bag assembly locator according to the present invention.
Fig. 9 is a structural schematic view of a card ejector mechanism according to embodiment 2 of the present invention.
Fig. 10 is an enlarged schematic view of a slide track in a card ejector mechanism according to embodiment 2 of the present invention.
Fig. 11 is a perspective view of a smart trash receptacle according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 12 is a structural schematic view showing a detachable connection between a lid and a storage body according to the present invention.
Fig. 13 is a structural schematic view of a storage body integral with a main body of a smart trash receptacle according to the present invention.

In these figures:
1 denotes a storage body; 2, a lid; 3, an annular trough; 4, a trash bag; 5, a flared edge; 6, a lip; 10, a trash bag assembly; 11 a first opening ;21 a second opening ;13, a third opening; 14; a main body of a trash receptacle ; 15, a container retainer; 16, a press cover; 17, a forth opening;18, a fifth opening; 20, a flip cover; 21, a panel; 22, an internal bin module; 23, a power cord; 201, a slide track; 202, an ejector; 203, a spring; 204, a stud; 206, a latched position; 207, an ejected position; 208, a locking member;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Exemplary embodiments will be described in detail below, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Whenever mentioned in the following description, the same numbers in different figures represent the same or similar elements, unless otherwise stated. The implementations set forth in the following description of exemplary embodiments do not represent all implementations consistent with the claimed invention. Instead, they are merely some examples of devices and methods consistent with certain aspects of the invention as specified in the appended claims.
Embodiments will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In addition, the embodiments set forth below do not limit the invention as defined by the appended claims in any sense. Further, none of the features described in the following embodiments are considered necessarily essential to the subject matter of the claims attached.

Embodiment 1

Referring to Figs. 1 to 5, a trash bag assembly for a smart trash receptacle provided in a particular embodiment includes a storage body 1 and a lid 2. The storage body 1 defines a first opening 11 extending therethrough, and the lid 2 defines a second opening 12 corresponding to the first opening 11 to allow deposition of trash through the first and second openings into the trash receptacle. Herein, the first and second openings are not limited to any size or shape and may be both circular, square or of another shape.
The storage body 1 further defines an annular trough 3 extending externally around the first opening 11 and configured to receive a trash bag 4. The annular trough 3 may have an open end that is open toward the first opening 11, or away from the first opening 11, or in the same direction in which the first opening 11 extends. As the size of the annular trough 3 is related to the maximum mass of the trash bags 4 that can be stored therein, it may be sized differently depending on the use frequency and deployment place. If a quite large amount of the trash bag 4 is expected to be used, the annular trough 3 may be configured to have a large storage capacity; and vice versa.
The lid 2 is configured to cover the open end of the annular trough 3 so that the trash bag 4 is confined within the annular trough 3 and can be pulled out only through a bag exit which is an annular gap formed by the lid 2 and one side wall of the annular trough 3. This gap is not limited to, and may have, any particular size as long as its above-described function is enabled.
During use, the annular trash bag 4 is nested in the annular trough 3, with one end thereof being pulled out from the bag exit and closed. In this way, trash bag replacement can be accomplished by a vacuum device incorporated in the trash receptacle. Under the action of the vacuum device, the trash bag 4 can be pushed and automatically fitted into the inside of the trash receptacle by the atmospheric pressure. In order to bag and seal the trash bag 4, an automatic bagging mechanism may be activated to drive two pressing bars to narrow and contract the trash bag 4 to a heat fusing device where the trash bag 4 is thermally cut and sealed.
The so constructed storage body 1 and the lid 2 can not only restrict the freedom of movement of the trash bag 4 to only one direction, but can also maintain the trash bag 4 in an always open configuration, dispensing with the need to open the trash bag during the automatic trash bag fitting process. As a result, a significantly simpler automatic trash bag fitting and bagging approach allowing easy implementation and operation is entailed.
Therefore, the trash bag assembly can be suitably used in a smart trash receptacle so as to help in achieving fully-automatic trash bag fitting and bagging capabilities, and can thus impart a higher degree of automation and intelligence.
Moreover, it can effectively prevent damage to the trash bag during its manufacturing, storage and transportation. As the annular trough 3 may be sized differently according to the usage frequency and deployment place of the trash receptacle, the mass of the trash bag stored therein and its bagging length can be easily adjusted to promote resource conservation. Compared with the roll-wise manner of trash bags, trash bag replenishment can be more easily accomplished with improved efficiency. As the trash bag assembly is an integral structure that can be easily assembled, its manufacturing and assembly can be achieved at lower cost.
It should be noted that the lid 2 for covering the open end of the annular trough 3 is secured by a direct connection to the storage body 1, namely the lid 2 is pivotably connected at one side edge to the storage body 1, thus forms an integration therewith. In this way, the trash bag assembly can be guaranteed to be stable and reliable.
The trash bag assembly further includes the trash bag 4 that is compliant with the storage body 1 and loadable within the annular trough 3 of the storage body 1. The trash bag 4 is a tubular structure having a continuous internal lumen extending throughout its entire length and two ends, one of which is open and the other is closed. In order to be received within the annular trough 3, the trash bag 4 is reciprocally folded into an annulus dimensionally consistent with the annular trough 3. As the trash bag 4 is an integral piece without weakened portions, it is not limited to any particular length. During use, the trash bag 4 with a proper length can be folded and loaded within the annular trough 3.
It should be noted that the trash bag 4 may be reciprocally folded as shown in Figs 4 to 5, and the direction in which it is folded may be either perpendicular or parallel to the side walls of the annular trough 3 or even oriented otherwise, depending on the actual circumstances.
In use, the weakness-free, integral, tubular trash bag 4 with a desired length and diameter may be axially folded manually or using a proper tool into an annulus which is then placed within the annular trough 3 of the storage body 1, thereby completing the loading of the trash bag 4. Additionally, the trash bag assembly may be placed in position in a corresponding component of the trash receptacle to deploy the weakness-free, integral, tubular trash bag for use. Of course, one end of the trash bag 4 may be pulled out of the annular trough 3 and closed. The closure may be accomplished by, but not limited to, thermoplastic sealing, or by another sealing method, in order to facilitate the automatic use of the initial trash bag segment.
In this way, compared with the conventional trash bags, the trash bag assembly can hold more trash substantially without restrictions. Moreover, it can be sealed and closed at any desired portion, depending on the amount of trash deposited therein, with the remaining length still available for further use. Thus, full utilization of its capacity can be achieved without waste of trash bag resources, and bagging and replacement can be performed in an automated fashion, increasing the degree of automation and intelligence of the conventional smart trash receptacle.
In this embodiment, the side wall of the annular trough 3 that defines the bag exit may have a flared edge 5 that is curved outwardly away from the annular trough 3. The flared edge 5 can guide the trash bag 4 and prevent it from being scratched while it is being pulled out from the bag exit, thereby reducing waste of resources.
In some embodiments, the open end of the annular trough 3 may be open in the same direction in which the first opening11 extends. In this case, the two side walls of the annular trough 3 can be respectively referred to as an inner side wall and an outer side wall. Wherein, the inner side wall is proximate the first opening 11 and separates it from the interior of the annular trough 3, while the outer side wall is away from the first opening 11 and separates the annular trough 3 from the outside. Thus, the open end substantially extends the entire circumferential length of the interior of the annular trough 3, which is helpful in the loading of the trash bag 4. Moreover, the annular trough 3 can be more firmly connection to the lid 2, helping in increasing the integrity of the trash bag assembly.
Due to the presence of the second opening 12, the lid 2 has both an inner edge proximate the second opening 12 and an outer edge away from the second opening 12. Wherein, the gap that provides the bag exit is formed between the inner edge of the lid 2 and the inner side wall of the annular trough 3, while the outer edge of the lid 2 is connected to the outer wall of the annular trough 3. In this way, one end of the trash bag 4 can be pulled out from the bag exit and then closed. In the trash bag fitting process, ambient air can flow in through the second and first openings to push the trash bag 4 into the trash receptacle. Therefore, the trash bag 4 can be segment-wise pulled out from the bag exit, reducing waste of trash bag resources and enabling an always open configuration of the trash bag. This dispenses with the need to open the trash bag during the trash bag fitting process and facilitates automatic trash bag fitting and bagging, imparting to the trash receptacle an increased degree of automation and intelligence.
Of course, in other embodiments, it may also be possible to connect the inner edge of the lid 2 to the inner side wall of the annular trough 3, with the gap providing the bag exit being formed between the outer edge of the lid 2 and the outer wall of the annular trough 3. This arrangement can offer the substantially same beneficial effects and will not be described in further detail herein for the sake of simplicity.
The outer edge of the lid 2 is "pivotably connected at one side edge to the outer wall of the annular trough 3. Here, the pivotable connection may be provided by a pivoting shaft or a weakened attachment seam. Of course, it may also be established in another possible pivotable form. In this way, the lid 2 can be pivoted to expose the open end of the annular trough 3 to allow the trash bag 4 to be put therein, or to cover the open end of the annular trough 3 to confine the trash bag 4 therein. This entails a simple and easily implementable structure with improved stability.
Further, the lid 2 may define a lip 6 extending along the outer edge and curved toward the outer wall of the annular trough 3. The lip 6 may form an interference fit with the outer wall, by means of which the lid 2 can be firmly fastened over the open end of the annular trough 3, helping in improving the structural stability. Of course, the lip 6 may also be fastened to the outer wall by snap-on means. In this case, the trash bag assembly will have improved integrity and can be assembled or disassembled more easily.
The snap-on means may include a recess and a block in cooperation with the recess. One of the recess and block is provided on an internal side of the lip 6 and the other on the outer wall of the annular trough 3. During movement of the lip 6 toward the outer wall of the annular trough 3, the block can be received in the recess, enabling the snap-on connection. The so constructed snap-on means is easily implementable and operable and can improve the stability of the connection between the lid 2 and the storage body 1.
In some embodiments, both the storage body 1 and the lid 2 may be generally square annuli with chamfered corners. As most trash receptacles are square, such a shape can facilitate the application to those square trash receptacles, allows more firm connection therewith and effectively prevent the rotation and displacement of the trash bag assembly therein. The shape of the trash bag assembly is not limited to a square annulus and may also be a circular annulus or another shape.
The storage body 1 and the lid 2 may be formed of molded plastic parts, or folded pieces of paper that are bonded together, or folded and curved metal members. This ensures easy availability of their materials and can address the requirements of diverse applications. Of course, they may also be made of other materials, depending on the actual circumstances.
The trash bag assembly will be described in detail in conjunction with the above embodiment and its preferred examples.
There is provided herein a trash bag assembly which is a box-like structure (i.e., a trash bag container) with a central opening through which trash can be deposited into a trash bag 4. The box-like structure is considered to be composed of a lid 2 and a storage body 1 defining an annular trough 3 for housing the trash bag 4. The lid 2 covers an open end of the annular trough 3 and is thus integrated into one piece with the storage body 1. The lid 2 and the storage body 1 may both be square or circular in shape, depending on the trash receptacle employing the assembly. The box-like structure (i.e, a trash bag container) is composed of only one integral component, one side edge of the lid 2 being pivotably connected to the storage body 1, thus form an integration therewith. The lid 2 may be configured to retain the trash bag 4 in the storage body 1 by a tape, a wire or other means. The storage body 1 and the lid 2 may be formed of molded plastic parts, or folded pieces of paper that are bonded together, or folded and curved metal members. The annular trough 3 of the storage body 1 may have an inner side wall defining an annular channel (i.e., a flared edge). However, the annular channel is not limited as being defined by the inner side wall of the annular trough 3, because it may also be defined by the outer side wall or another portion thereof.
Further, the trash bag assembly includes the trash bag 4 which is a weakness-free, integral, tubular trash bag with one end being closed to facilitate the automatic initial use subsequent to replenishment. In order to load the trash bag 4 for use, it may be reciprocally folded axially into an annulus by manual or mechanical means and put in the storage body 1. In generally cases, the storage body 1 may be, but is not limited to, a box-like structure with an opening extending therethrough. It may also be a trough-like structure, a ring-like structure or an applicable retaining frame-like structure. In normal use, the trash bag 4 may be typically housed in an upper portion of the trash receptacle, or in another portion thereof. In particular, the trash bag 4 may be usually folded into an annulus that is disposed flush with an open top of the trash receptacle.
A process for forming the trash bag assembly may include the steps of:

axially folding the weakness-free, tubular trash bag 4 with a length and diameter selected according to the practical need into an annulus manually or using a certain tool;
pressing the folded annular trash bag 4 into a storage space within the annular trough 3 of the storage body 1;
pulling one end of the tubular trash bag 4 out of the annular trough 3 and closing this end by, but not limited to, thermoplastic sealing or by another sealing technique, in order to facilitate the automatic use of the first segment of the trash bag 4; and
pivoting the lid 2 so that it covers the open end of the annular trough 3 and is quickly fastened to the storage body 1 by means of its lip 6, thus ending this process.

There is also provided herein a smart trash receptacle including the trash bag assembly as defined above.
In doing so, it is easily capable of fully-automatic trash bag fitting and bagging and has a higher degree of automation and intelligence. Moreover, tearing of the trash bag 4 during its manufacturing, storage and transportation can be effectively avoided. As the annular trough 3 may be sized differently according to the usage frequency and deployment place of the trash receptacle, the mass of the trash bag 4 stored therein and its bagging length can be easily adjusted to promote resource conservation. Compared with the roll-wise manner of trash bags, trash bag replenishment can be more easily accomplished with improved efficiency. As the trash bag assembly is an integral structure that can be easily assembled, its manufacturing and assembly can be achieved at lower cost. Since the smart trash receptacle offers the substantially same beneficial effects as the above-described trash bag assembly, it will not be described in further detail herein for the sake of simplicity.
Preferably, as shown in Fig. 13, the storage body 1 is integral with the main body of the smart trash receptacle. That is, the storage body 1 and the main body 14 are of a single unitary piece, with a press cover 16 serving as the lid 2 of the trash bag assembly.

Embodiment 2

Referring to Figs. 6 to 11, the smart trash receptacle may further include a trash bag assembly locator, wherein the trash bag assembly 10 includes a trash bag container and a trash bag 4 housed therein, and the trash bag container is disposed within the main body 14. In order to allow deposition of trash into the trash receptacle, the trash bag container has a third opening 13 for the passage of trash. The main body 14 may be provided with a container retainer 15 on which the trash bag container is supported. Further, in order to smooth the deposition of trash into the main body 14, the container retainer 15 may define a fourth opening 17 corresponding to the third opening 13. Furthermore, in order to facilitate the replacement of the trash bag container, the main body 14 may define a channel for the passage thereof.
In addition, the channel may be defined in an upper or lateral portion of the main body 14. In the former case, the emptied trash bag container may be taken out in a height-wise direction of the main body 14, followed by placement of a new trash bag container onto the container retainer 15 in a reverse direction. In the latter case, the container retainer 15 may be laterally pulled out from the trash receptacle, allowing the emptied trash bag container to be replaced with a new trash bag container. After that, the container retainer 15 may be pushed back into the main body 14. In this way, the trash bag container can be easily extracted out while greatly saving the interior space of the trash receptacle. Of course, the channel may also be defined in another portion, depending on the actual circumstances.
Conventionally, when the current trash bag is used up, a new trash bag could be loaded in a storage space in the trash bag container retainer only after the latter is disassembled from the main body. After doing so, the trash bag container retainer must be again assembled with the trash receptacle. This disassembly/assembly cycle is a tedious, time-consuming and laborious process.
With this arrangement, the main body is provided with a container retainer on which the trash bag container is supported. Upon the trash bag being used up, the replenishment can be accomplished simply by replacing the emptied trash bag container with another trash bag container loaded with a new trash bag, without the need for dismantlement of the trash bag container retainer. It solves the conventional problem above mentioned.
In preferred examples of this embodiment, the container retainer 15 and the main body 14 may either be provided as a single integral piece or separate pieces, depending on the practical need and actual circumstances.
In a first example, as shown in Fig. 7, the container retainer 15 is integral with the main body 14. In this case, the channel is preferably defined in an upper portion of the main body 14, with the container retainer 15 being implemented as an annular trough extending along an inner circumference of the main body 14 and housing the trash bag. Preferably, the container retainer 15 is disposed on an upper portion of an inner surface of the main body 14. This can save the inner space of the trash receptacle while ensuring smooth extraction of the trash bag.
The trash bag locator may further include a press cover 16 for securing the trash bag container. The press cover 16 is configured to be pressed over the trash bag container and may define a fifth opening 18 corresponding to both the third opening 13 and the fourth opening 17. That is, the press cover 16 may have the same cross-sectional outlines as the trash bag container has. Further, the press cover 16 may be detachably connected to the main body 14.
Further, in this example, an attractive fastener may be disposed between the press cover 16 and the main body 14. In particular, the attractive fastener may be a strongly magnetically attractive fastener including a first magnet disposed on the press cover 16 and a second magnet in the main body of the trash receptacle. The press cover 16 may be pressed over the trash bag container as a result of a magnetic attraction between the first and second magnets.
It is easy for those skilled in the art to understand that the strongly magnetically attractive fastener may be a magnet and a iron block, which attract each other and enable the press cover 16be pressed over the trash bag container. One of the magnet and the iron block may be defined in the press cover16, and the other may be defined in the main body14.
In this example, the following steps may be followed to replace the trash bag container:
opening a flip cover of the trash receptacle; removing the press cover 16; taking out the emptied trash bag container in the height-wise direction of the trash receptacle; putting a new trash bag container onto the container retainer 15 in the reverse direction; and finally laying back the press cover 16, thus completing the replacement so that the trash receptacle is again available for continued use.
In a second example, as shown in Fig. 8, the container retainer 15 and the main body 14 are separate components. In this case, the channel is preferably defined in a lateral portion of the main body 14, with a card ejector mechanism or a motor-driven ejector mechanism disposed between the container retainer 15 and the main body 14. The container retainer 15 is able to be ejected from the channel or latched therein by the card ejector mechanism. The motor-driven ejector mechanism may, for example, include a motor and a transmission gear coupled to the motor. The motor is able to push the container retainer 15 out by means of the transmission gear. The motor-driven ejector mechanism may resemble a conventional ejector mechanism used in a CD-ROM disk drive of a computer.
It should be noted that, in reference to a conventional memory card ejector mechanism, as shown in Figs. 9 and 10, the card ejector mechanism in this example may specifically include a slide track 201, an ejector 202 and a spring 203. The slide track 201 includes a locking member 208 and defines a latched position 206 and an ejected position 207. The ejector 202 is mounted on the slide track 201 so that it is switchable thereon between the latched position 206 and the ejected position 207, allowing the container retainer 15 to be ejected out. The spring 203 connects the slide track 201 to a stud 204 and is used to provide a resilient force enabling the ejection. When the ejector 202 is pushed on the slide track 201 from the ejected position 207 to the latched position 206, the ejector 202 is hooked on the locking member 208, stretching the spring 203. As a result, the container retainer 15 is hidden and locked in the channel. Upon the ejector 202 being released from the locking member 208 as a result of another push thereon, it will return to the ejected position 207, concurrently with the container retainer 15 being ejected out under the action of the resilient force.
Of course, in other examples, it is also possible for the trash bag container to be manually drawn out laterally from the main body 14 or in another manner. This will not be described in further detail herein, and how it is pulled out can depend on the practical need and actual circumstances.
Specifically, as shown in Fig. 11, operation of the smart trash receptacle according to this embodiment may begin with fully charging its battery using a power cord 23 and deploying it at a desired place. When a user is approaching the smart trash receptacle in order to deposit trash in it, an infrared (IR) sensor module in the smart trash receptacle will sense the user and automatically open the flip cover 20. After the user walks away, the flip cover 20 will be automatically closed. Upon the smart trash receptacle becoming full, a Seal/Renew button on a panel 21 can be manipulated to cause the smart trash receptacle perform a bagging process, under the control of an MCU( e.g: Microcontroller Unit )therein. An internal bin module 22 of the smart trash receptacle may incline outwardly by 45 degrees to expose its open mouth. The bagged trash bag containing trash can then be picked up and taken away by the user. Afterward, with the aid of the battery and under the control of the MCU, the internal bin module 22 of the smart trash receptacle is restored into its initial position, creating a confined space therein. The smart trash receptacle then may perform a trash bag replacement process under the control of an MCU ( e.g: Microcontroller Unit ) therein to fitting a new trash bag into the smart trash receptacle. After the trash bag replacement is accomplished, the user is then again allowed to deposit trash in the trash receptacle.
It should be noted that the terms "first", "second", "third", "fourth", "fifth", etc. as used herein are intended merely to distinguish between elements or functionalities rather than implying any particular sequence or order.
The foregoing description merely presents a few particular embodiments of the present invention and does not limit the scope thereof in any sense. Any and all variations or substitutions easily devisable by those familiar with the art in light of the teachings disclosed herein are considered to fall within the scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention shall be as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

A trash bag assembly for a smart trash receptacle, comprising:
a storage body (1) defining both a first opening (11) allowing the passage of trash and an annular trough (3) extending externally around the first opening (11) and configured to receive a trash bag (4); and

a lid (2) defining a second opening (12) corresponding to the first opening (11), the lid (2) being configured to cover an open end of the annular trough (3) so as to form, together with one side wall of the annular trough (3), a gap serving as a bag exit;

wherein the trash bag (4) is a tubular structure having a continuous internal lumen extending throughout its entire length and two ends, the trash bag (4) being configured to be reciprocally folded into an annulus so as to be disposed within the annular trough (3);

wherein the open end of the annular trough (3) is open in the same direction in which the first opening (11) extends, the annular trough (3) having an inner side wall proximate the first opening (11) and an outer side wall away from the first opening (11), wherein the lid (2) has an inner edge forming the gap, together with the inner side wall, and an outer edge connected to the outer side wall;

characterised in that one of the two ends of the tubular structure of the trash bag (4) is open and the other of the two ends is closed, and the outer edge of the lid (2) is pivotably connected at one side edge to the outer side wall of the annular trough (3).
The trash bag assembly of claim 1, wherein the side wall of the annular trough (3) that defines the bag exit has a flared edge (5) that is curved outwardly away from the annular trough (3).
The trash bag assembly of claim 1, wherein the lid (2) defines a lip (6) at the outer edge, which forms an interference fit with the outer side wall of the annular trough (3) or is fastened thereto by snap-on means.
The trash bag assembly of claim 3, wherein the snap-on means comprises a recess and a block in cooperation with the recess, one of which is provided on an internal side of the lip (6) and the other on the outer side wall of the annular trough (3).
A smart trash receptacle, comprising the trash bag assembly of claim 1-4.
The smart trash receptacle of claim 5, the storage body (1) and the lid (2) composing a trash bag container defining the annular trough (3) for housing the trash bag (4), the first opening (11) and the second opening (12) composing a third opening (13) for the passage of trash, wherein the smart trash receptacle further includes a trash bag assembly locator, the trash bag assembly locator includes a container retainer (15) on which the trash bag container is supported, the container retainer (15) disposed within the main body (14) of the smart trash receptacle, the container retainer (15) defining a fourth opening (17) corresponding to the third opening (13), the main body (14) defining a channel for the passage thereof.
The smart trash receptacle of claim 6, wherein the channel is in an upper portion or a lateral portion of the main body (14).
The smart trash receptacle of claim 6, wherein the container retainer (15) and the main body (14) is provided as a single integral piece or separate pieces.
The smart trash receptacle of claim 6, wherein the trash bag assembly locator further includes a press cover (16) for securing the trash bag container, the press cover (16) is configured to be pressed over the trash bag container and defining a fifth opening (18) corresponding to both the third opening (13) and the fourth opening (17), and the press cover (16) is configured to be detachably connected to the main body (14).
The smart trash receptacle of claim 9, wherein an attractive fastener is disposed between the press cover (16) and the main body (14).
The smart trash receptacle of claim 10, wherein the attractive fastener is a strongly magnetically attractive fastener;
the strongly magnetically attractive fastener including a first magnet disposed on the press cover and a second magnet in the main body (14) of the trash receptacle, the press cover (16) is configured to be pressed over the trash bag container as a result of a magnetic attraction between the first and second magnets; or,

the strongly magnetically attractive fastener including a magnet and a iron block, which attract each other and enable the press cover (16) be pressed over the trash bag container. One of the magnet and the iron block is defined in the press cover (16), and the other is defined in the main body (14).