Liner Dispensing System

Abstract

A container liner dispensing system includes a panel mounted on a base, the panel having molded as a unit with the panel a first fastener means. The base includes molded as a unit with the base a trough and second fastener means aligned with the first fastener means for fastening the panel on the base. The panel and the trough together form a tube having a length, an axis, a first open end and a blocked second end for receiving a plurality of liner bags joined end to end in a strip and gathered in a roll having an outer curve of predetermined diameter. The panel includes a slot through the panel over the trough generally lengthwise with the tube, the slot having a first end that is open through an end of the panel, and having a second end. The slot walls diverge from the second end to the first, open end. The panel extends axially beyond the open first end of the tube. The first end of the slot extends beyond the open end of the tube. The panel includes a finger hole through the panel adjacent to the slot beyond the open end of the tube for rotating the first end of the slot upward. The bottom of the trough comprises a curve that in cross section closely approaches a portion of the outer curve of predetermined diameter.

1 . A container liner dispensing system comprising: 
 a base,    a panel,    the panel being mounted on the base and comprising molded as a unit with the panel a first fastener,    the base comprising molded as a unit with the base a trough having a first end, a second end, a top, and second fastener aligned with the first fastener on the panel for fastening the panel on the base,    the panel and the trough together forming a tube having a length, an axis, an open first end and a blocked second end,    the panel comprising a slot through the panel over the trough substantially lengthwise with the tube, the slot having a first end that is open through an end of the panel, and a second end that is closed, the slot diverging from its second, closed end to its open, first end thereby forming an angle of divergence.    
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the angle of divergence is about 0 degrees, 40 minutes to about 0 degrees, 44 minutes.  
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the angle of divergence is about 0 degrees, 42 minutes and 27 seconds.  
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1  wherein a slot width at the second, closed end is about 0.186 inch and about 0.318 inch at the first, open end.  
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the second end of the slot is adjacent to the blocked second end.  
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the slot is longer than the length of the tube.  
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the first end of the slot extends beyond the open end of the tube.  
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 7  further comprising a finger hole through the panel adjacent to the slot beyond the open end of the tube.  
   
   
       9 . A container liner dispensing system comprising: 
 a base,    a panel,    the panel being mounted on the base and comprising molded as a unit with the panel a flexible latch finger extending from the panel,    the base comprising molded as a unit with the base a trough having a first end, a second end, a first side, a second side, a top, a bottom, a first shoulder on the first side, a second shoulder on the second side, and a receiver for the flexible latch finger aligned with the flexible latch finger for fastening the panel on the base,    the panel being mounted on the first and second shoulders, and forming with the trough a tube having a length, an axis, an open first end and a blocked second end,    the panel comprising a slot through the panel over the trough, the slot having a first end that is open through an end of the panel and a second end that is closed, the slot diverging from its second, closed end to its open, first end, thereby forming an angle of divergence, and    a molded alignment element on the panel for aligning the panel with the base when the panel is fastened on the base.    
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 9  wherein the angle of divergence is about 0 degrees, 40 minutes to about 0 degrees, 44 minutes.  
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 9  wherein the angle of divergence is about 0 degrees, 42 minutes and 27 seconds.  
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 9  wherein a slot width at the second, closed end is about 0.186 inch and about 0.318 inch at the first, open end.  
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 9  wherein the slot extends beyond the open end of the tube.  
   
   
       14 . A container liner dispensing system comprising: 
 a waste container having a bottom wall, and a circumferential vertical wall attached to the bottom wall forming an enclosure having a top and a bottom,    a base,    a panel,    the panel being mounted on the base and comprising molded as a unit with the panel a first fastener,    the panel and base together being removably mounted in the waste container,    the base comprising molded as a unit with the base a trough having a first end, a second end, a top, a bottom, and second fastener aligned with the first fastener on the panel for fastening the panel on the base,    the panel and the trough together forming a tube having a length, an axis, an open first end and a blocked second end,    the panel comprising a slot through the panel over the trough substantially lengthwise with the tube, the slot having a first end that is open through an end of the panel and a second end, the slot diverging from its second, closed end to its open, first end, thereby forming an angle of divergence.    
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 14  wherein the angle of divergence is about 0 degrees, 40 minutes to about 0 degrees, 44 minutes.  
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 14  wherein the angle of divergence is about 0 degrees, 42 minutes and 27 seconds.  
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 14  wherein a slot width at the second, closed end is about 0.186 inch and about 0.318 inch at the first, open end.  
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 14  wherein the panel extends axially beyond the open first end of the tube.  
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 14  wherein the first end of the slot extends beyond the open end of the tube.  
   
   
       20 . The system of  claim 14  further comprising a finger hole through the panel adjacent to the slot beyond the open end of the tube for rotating the first end of the slot upward.  
   
   
       21 . The system of  claim 14  further comprising a plurality of liner bags joined end to end in a strip and gathered in a roll having an outer curve of predetermined diameter, in the tube, the bottom of the trough comprising a curve that in cross section substantially approaches a portion of the outer curve of predetermined diameter.  
   
   
       22 . A method of dispensing a container liner comprising the steps of: 
 a. placing the system of  claim 1  within a container;    b. tilting upward the system of  claim 1  by lifting a panel open end upward to expose the tube open end and slot open end;    c. inserting a plurality of trash liner bags into the tube open end and simultaneously inserting the end of a strip comprising a first liner bag into the slot open end;    d. lowering the panel open end until the system is at rest in the bottom of the container;    e. pulling the first liner bag upward to engage a container opening;    f. disengaging the first liner bag from the container opening and separating the first liner bag from the plurality of trash liner bags at a predetermined level of fullness; and    g. repeating steps e and f, as required.    
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 22  wherein the angle of divergence is about 0 degrees, 40 minutes to about 0 degrees, 44 minutes.  
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 22  wherein the angle of divergence is about 0 degrees, 42 minutes and 27 seconds.  
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 22  wherein a slot width at the second, closed end is about 0.186 inch and about 0.318 inch at the first, open end.