Method and apparatus for vacuum release of a trash bag in a waste container

Abstract

A method and apparatus prevents vacuum restraint during removal of a plastic trash bag liner from a trash container. The side wall of the trash container includes a vent port near the bottom of the container, and a flapper valve attached above the vent port on the inside of the container covers the port with a covering element while the trash bag rests. When the trash bag is filled and thereafter lifted out of the trash container, the covering element lifts to open the vent port and cause an inflow of air under the trash bag to prevent a vacuum forming.

1 . A method for preventing vacuum restraint of a plastic trash bag comprising:
 providing a trash container with an interior defined by a bottom wall a plurality of side walls;   providing a vent port in one of the side walls substantially near the bottom wall;   covering the vent port with a covering element while the trash bag rests in the trash container and is filled; and   lifting the covering element to open the vent port and cause an inflow of air under the trash bag upon lifting the trash bag upward out of the trash container.   
   
   
       2 . A method for preventing vacuum restraint of a plastic trash bag as in  claim 1  in which covering the vent port includes providing a flapper valve attached above the vent port on the interior of the trash container with the covering element provided on the flapper valve for covering the vent port. 
   
   
       3 . A method for preventing vacuum restraint of a plastic trash bag as in  claim 2  in which a flexible arm is provided on the flapper valve for retaining the covering element and the flexible arm bends when lifting the covering element. 
   
   
       4 . An apparatus for prevention of vacuum restraint that may occur during removal of a plastic trash bag comprising:
 a trash container having a bottom wall and side walls that define an interior of the trash container;   a vent port through one of the side walls situated at a position substantially near the bottom wall; and   a flapper valve having a mounting element, a flexible arm and a covering element and attached in the interior of the trash container by affixing the mounting element to the side wall above the vent port such that the covering element is arranged to cover the vent port when resting.   
   
   
       5 . An apparatus as described in  claim 4  in which the vent port is a circular hole and the covering element is a circular plug. 
   
   
       6 . An apparatus as described in  claim 4  in which the covering element include an inside face having a friction creating element comprised of a raised surface. 
   
   
       7 . A method of modifying an existing trash container to prevent vacuum restraint that may occur when a plastic trash bag is pulled out of the trash container, said method comprising:
 obtaining a flapper valve;   making a vent port through a wall of the trash container and at a position substantially near a bottom wall of the trash container;   attaching the flapper valve to the wall of the trash container at a position above the vent port when the trash container is upright so that the flapper valve flexibly lifts inward and upward and so that a plug on the flapper valve aligns with the vent port and seals the vent port closed when resting and so that the plug opens the vent port causing a flow of outside air into the trash container when the trash bag is lifted.