Garbage can & support for use with disposable bags

Abstract

An apparatus and method for releasably supporting a liner, such as a trash bag or laundry bag, within a container, such as a trash can or laundry basket. The apparatus includes a body and a base. The base includes a top opening and a bottom opening, with the area of the top opening being less than the area of the bottom opening. Additionally, the body gradually slopes inward from the bottom opening to the top opening. The body is configured to receive a liner, which removably fits inside the body to protect the body from direct contact with soiled objects. The liner is longer in length than the body to allow the liner to wrap around the top opening of the body. The base releasably attaches to the body at the bottom opening. The inner surface of the base supports a bottom of the liner. The apparatus protects the liner from puncture when the body is inserted into the liner before being filled. The method includes inserting the bottom opening into an opening of the liner, gathering the opening of the liner and sides of the liner about the bottom opening of the body, attaching a base to the bottom opening with a securing device, securing the liner to a lower portion of the body, filling the body with objects, and when filled, removing the base to cause the objects to fill the liner.

1 . An apparatus to releasably support a liner, the apparatus comprising: 
 a body having a top opening and a bottom opening, the area of the top opening being less than the area of the bottom opening, and the body gradually sloping inward from the bottom opening to the top opening, the body configured to receive a liner, wherein the liner is longer in length than the body; and    a base releasably attachable to the body at the bottom opening, an inner surface of the base configured to provide support to a bottom of the liner.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the body is conical-shaped.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a lid releasably attachable to the body at the top opening.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising clips attached to an outer surface of the body, configured to secure upper edges of the liner to the body.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the body attaches to the base via clasps.  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the body screws onto the base to the secure the body to the base.  
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the body attaches to the base via friction.  
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the base comprises at least one foot rest protruding outward from the base, configured to allow a user to stand on the foot rest while the user lifts the body therefrom.  
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the body angles inward on the outside surface, from the bottom opening to the top opening, at more than 90 degrees, with respect to the base.  
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the body angles on the outside surface inward at about 110 degrees with respect to the base.  
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the liner holds laundry.  
   
   
       12 . An apparatus to protect and support a liner, comprising: 
 a body having a top opening and a bottom opening, the area of the top opening being less than the area of the bottom opening, the body configured to be inserted into a liner, bottom end first;    a base, releasably attached to the bottom opening of the body, configured to hold the liner between the base and a bottom lip of the body; and    a securing device for attaching the base to the body, wherein the attaching device is configured to contain the liner within a zone of the body.    
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the apparatus further comprises handles attached to the body, and wherein the handles remain accessible even with the liner attached to the body.  
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the body is cone-shaped.  
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , further comprising clips attached to an outer surface of the body, configured to secure upper edges of the trash bag to the body.  
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the securing device is selected from the group consisting of clasps, friction, and screws.  
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the base comprises at least one foot rest protruding outward from the base, configured to allow a user to stand on the foot rest while the user lifts the body therefrom.  
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the body angles inward from the bottom opening to the top opening at more than 90 degrees with respect to the base.  
   
   
       19 . A method for using an apparatus to support and protect a liner comprising the steps of: 
 providing a body with a top opening and a bottom opening;    inserting the bottom opening into an opening of the liner;    gathering the opening of the liner and sides of the liner about the bottom opening of the body;    attaching a base to the bottom opening with a securing device;    securing the liner and sides of the liner to a lower portion of the body;    filling the body with objects;    when filled, removing the base and allowing the objects to move from the body to the liner; and    removing the body from inside of the liner.    
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the sides of the liner are secured to the lower portion of the body with the same securing device that is used to attach the base to the body.