Expandable receptacle

Abstract

An expandable receptacle comprising an outer tubular member and an inner tubular member. The inner tubular member is concentrically positioned in, and supported by, the outer tubular member in a telescoping relationship such that one of the inner tubular member and the outer tubular member is moveable along a longitudinal axis of the inner tubular member and the outer tubular member between a collapsed position and an expanded position. The inner tubular member and the outer tubular member cooperate to define a content receiving compartment having an open top and an open bottom whereby contents of the content receiving compartment are removable therefrom by lifting the inner tubular member and the outer tubular member upward and away from the contents.

1 . A receptacle, comprising:
 a stand having a base and a sidewall extending upwardly from the base; and   at least one cylindrical, tubular member having an outer surface, an inner surface, an open top, and an open bottom, the open bottom positioned in the sidewall of the stand and supported by the base, the tubular member defining a content receiving compartment having an open top and an open bottom whereby contents of the content receiving compartment are removable therefrom by lifting the tubular member upward and away from the stand and the contents of the content receiving compartment so as to cause the tubular member to slide over the contents in such a way that the contents are removed from the content receiving compartment.   
   
   
       2 . The receptacle of  claim 1  wherein the inner surface of the tubular member is protrusionless. 
   
   
       3 . The receptacle of  claim 1  wherein the stand has a plurality of wheels. 
   
   
       4 . The receptacle of  claim 1  further comprising a flexible liner having a closed lower end and an open upper end, the liner positioned in the content receiving compartment. 
   
   
       5 . The receptacle of  claim 4  wherein the inner surface of the tubular member is protrusionless. 
   
   
       6 . The receptacle of  claim 1  wherein the tubular member has at least one handle extending from the outer surface thereof. 
   
   
       7 . An expandable receptacle, comprising:
 an outer cylindrical, tubular member having an outer surface, an inner surface, an open top, and an open bottom; and   an inner cylindrical, tubular member having an outer surface, an inner surface, an open top, and an open bottom, the inner tubular member concentrically positioned in, and supported by, the outer tubular member in a telescoping relationship in such a way that one of the inner tubular member and the outer tubular member is moveable along a longitudinal axis of the inner tubular member and the outer tubular member between a collapsed position and an expanded position, the inner tubular member and the outer tubular member cooperating to define a content receiving compartment having an open top, the outer surface of the inner tubular member positioned adjacent the inner surface of the outer member in such a way that contents disposed in the content receiving compartment cause the outer surface of the inner surface to frictionally engage the inner surface of the outer tubular member and thereby support the inner tubular member in the extended position.   
   
   
       8 . The receptacle of  claim 7  wherein the inner surface of the inner tubular member and the inner surface of the outer tubular member are protrusionless. 
   
   
       9 . The expandable receptacle of  claim 7  wherein the content receiving compartment has an open bottom so that the contents of the content receiving compartment are removable therefrom by lifting the inner tubular member and the outer tubular member upward and away from the contents so as to cause the tubular member to slide over the contents in such a way that the contents are removed from the content receiving compartment. 
   
   
       10 . The receptacle of  claim 9  wherein the inner surface of the inner tubular member and the inner surface of the outer tubular member are protrusionless. 
   
   
       11 . The expandable receptacle of  claim 7  further comprising a stand supporting the inner and the outer tubular members. 
   
   
       12 . The expandable receptacle of  claim 11 , wherein the stand has a plurality of wheels. 
   
   
       13 . The expandable receptacle of  claim 11  further comprising a liner having a closed lower end and an open upper end, the liner positioned in the content receiving compartment. 
   
   
       14 . The receptacle of  claim 13  wherein the inner surface of the inner tubular member and the inner surface of the outer tubular member are protrusionless. 
   
   
       15 . A method for disposing of refuse, comprising:
 providing a stand having a base and a sidewall extending upwardly from the base;   positioning a cylindrical, tubular member having an outer surface, an inner surface, an open top, and an open bottom in the sidewall of the stand;   positioning a liner having a closed lower end and an open upper end in the tubular member so that the liner is supported by the tubular member and the stand;   disposing of refuse in the liner;   closing the open upper end of the liner; and   lifting the tubular member upward and away from the stand so as to cause the tubular member to slide over the liner in such a way that the liner is removed from the tubular member.   
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising the step of rollingly transporting the stand together with the liner to a desired location. 
   
   
       17 . A method for disposing of refuse, comprising:
 providing a stand having a base and a sidewall extending upwardly from the base;   positioning an outer cylindrical, tubular member having an outer surface, an inner surface, an open top, and an open bottom in the sidewall of the stand;   positioning an inner cylindrical, tubular member having an outer surface, an inner surface, an open top, and an open bottom in the outer tubular member in a telescoping relationship in such a way that one of the inner tubular member and the outer tubular member is moveable along a longitudinal axis of the inner tubular member and the outer tubular member between a collapsed position and an expanded position, the inner tubular member and the outer tubular member cooperating to define a content receiving compartment;   positioning a liner having a closed lower end and an open upper end in the content receiving compartment;   disposing of refuse in the liner via the open upper end;   sliding the inner tubular member upward relative to the outer tubular member to an expanded position to increase the capacity of the content receiving compartment as the content receiving compartment becomes filled to an extent that the inner tubular member contents disposed in the content receiving compartment cause the outer surface of the inner surface to frictionally engage the inner surface of the outer tubular member and thereby support the inner tubular member in the expanded position;   continue disposing of refuse in the liner closing the open upper end of the liner; and   lifting the inner tubular member and the outer tubular member upward and away from the stand so as to cause the inner tubular member and the outer tubular member to slide over the liner in such a way that the liner is removed from the content receiving compartment.   
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising the step of rollingly transporting the stand together with the liner to a desired location.