Easy access refuse container

Abstract

A refuse container which may be worn by a user and into which small refuse items can be inserted for temporary storage for later disposal using a single finger, is described. A hollow body and an open screw cap cooperate to hold a deformable septum having a slit or perforation such that small items may easily be inserted into the body through the slit wherein they are securely enclosed until the body is detached from the cap. The refuse contents can then be disposed of in an acceptable manner.

1 . A refuse container comprising in combination:
 a hollow body having an open end and a closed end, an inner surface and an outer surface, the open end of said body terminating in a substantially flat surface and the outer surface being threaded in the vicinity of the open end of said body;   an open cap having one flanged end having a substantially flat inner surface, said cap having a threaded interior surface adapted such that said body can be screwed into the threaded surface of said cap; and   a deformable septum having a slit therethrough through which refuse can be inserted, adapted to be disposed between the substantially flat surface of said body and the substantially flat inner surface of the flange of said cap.   
   
   
       2 . The refuse container of  claim 1 , further comprising attachment means for attaching said cap to another object. 
   
   
       3 . The refuse container of  claim 1 , wherein said septum comprises a circumferential rib. 
   
   
       4 . The refuse container of  claim 3 , wherein said cap has a groove on the interior surface thereof extending from the flat inner surface thereof such that said septum is retained by said cap when said body is detached therefrom. 
   
   
       5 . The refuse container of  claim 1 , wherein said body is a cylindrical body and said cap is an annular-shaped cap. 
   
   
       6 . The refuse container of  claim 5 , wherein the flange of said annular-shaped cap has a funnel-shape. 
   
   
       7 . The refuse container of  claim 1 , wherein the slit through said septum has a shape selected from the group consisting of lines, crosses and “x”s. 
   
   
       8 . The refuse container of  claim 1 , wherein the inner surface of said body in the vicinity of the closed end thereof is a curved surface. 
   
   
       9 . The refuse container of  claim 1 , wherein said septum has a planar cross section. 
   
   
       10 . The refuse container of  claim 1 , wherein said septum has a curved cross section. 
   
   
       11 . A refuse container comprising in combination:
 a hollow body having an open end and a closed end, an inner surface and an outer surface, a flange having a substantially flat first surface on the side thereof which forms the open end of said body and a second surface which forms one side of a groove disposed on the outer surface of said body, the flange having at least two opposing notches therein;   an open cap having a flanged end having a substantially flat inner surface, said cap having an interior surface having at least two opposing projections disposed such that the at least two projections engage the at least two opposing notches in the flange of said body in such a manner that the projections are reversibly held in the groove of said body when the open end of said body is pushed onto the open end of said cap and twisted; and   a deformable septum having a slit therethrough through which refuse can be inserted, adapted to be disposed between the substantially flat surface of said body and the substantially flat inner surface of the flange of said cap.   
   
   
       12 . The refuse container of  claim 11 , further comprising attachment means for attaching said cap to another object. 
   
   
       13 . The refuse container of  claim 11 , wherein said septum comprises a circumferential rib. 
   
   
       14 . The refuse container of  claim 13 , wherein said cap has a groove on the interior surface thereof extending from the flat inner surface thereof such that said septum is retained by said cap when said body is detached therefrom. 
   
   
       15 . The refuse container of  claim 11 , wherein said body is a cylindrical body and said cap is an annular-shaped cap. 
   
   
       16 . The refuse container of  claim 15 , wherein the flange of said annular-shaped cap has a funnel-shape. 
   
   
       17 . The refuse container of  claim 11 , wherein the slit through said septum has a shape selected from the group consisting of lines, crosses and “x”s. 
   
   
       18 . The refuse container of  claim 11 , wherein the inner surface of said body in the vicinity of the closed end thereof is a curved surface. 
   
   
       19 . The refuse container of  claim 11 , wherein said septum has a planar cross section. 
   
   
       20 . The refuse container of  claim 11 , wherein said septum has a curved cross section.