Trash receptacle vacuum release vent

Abstract

A composite vent has an elongated rectangular central panel with two narrower longitudinal rectangular side panels hingeably attached or detachably connected thereto, such that the side panels form a range of obtuse angles with the central panel. The reverse sides of the side panels contain one or more adhesive strips, such that the vent can be securely attached across the corner or side of a trash receptacle regardless of the size or shape of the receptacle or the angle at which the side walls of the receptacle meet to form a corner. The composite vent creates a vertical airway along the corner of side of the trash receptacle, such that air can enter at the top of the panel and flow down the sides of the receptacle and into the bottom below the liner bag. To prevent obstruction of the airway by the liner, the vent panel can be perforated at intervals along its length, and/or it contain a vent opening at its lower edge.

1 . A composite vacuum release vent, attachable to an interior of a trash receptacle, comprising:
 (a) an elongated rectangular central panel having two longitudinal sides and two lateral sides;   (b) two elongated rectangular side panels, which are hingeably attached to the central panel along the longitudinal sides and are aligned with the lateral sides;   (c) one or more hinge means, by means of which the side panels are hingeably attached to the central panel; and   (d) one or more attachment means, by which the side panels are secured to the interior of the trash receptacle, such that, when a liner bag is inserted into the interior of the trash receptacle, the composite vacuum release vent maintains an open airway between the liner bag and the interior of the receptacle, so as to prevent the creation of a partial vacuum as the liner bag expands upon filling.   
     
     
         2 . The composite vacuum release vent according to  claim 1 , wherein the side panels have a reverse surface upon which the attachment means are located. 
     
     
         3 . The composite vacuum release vent according to  claim 2 , wherein the hinge means enables the side panels to pivot with respect to the central panel through a range of oblique angles so as to cause the attachment means to conformably engage the interior of the trash receptacle. 
     
     
         4 . The composite vacuum release vent according to  claim 3 , wherein the central panel has one or more apertures that enable air to flow through the central panel. 
     
     
         5 . The composite vacuum release vent according to  claim 4 , wherein the central panel has a bottom lateral side that is contoured or notched to provide an opening for air to flow beneath the liner bag. 
     
     
         6 . A composite vacuum release vent, attachable to an interior of a trash receptacle, comprising:
 (a) an elongated rectangular central panel having two longitudinal sides and two lateral sides, and having an obverse face and a reverse face;   (b) two elongated rectangular side panels, each of which has an inner longitudinal edge an outer longitudinal edge, wherein the inner longitudinal edge of each side panel overlaps one of the longitudinal sides of the central panel and extends over a portion of the obverse face of the central panel so as to form a panel overlap along each of the longitudinal sides of the central panel, and wherein the side panels are detachably connected to the central panel along the panel overlaps;   (c) one or more detachable connector means, by means of which the side panels are detachably connected to the central panel; and   (d) one or more attachment means, by means of which the side panels are secured to the interior of the trash receptacle, such that, when the detachable connector means are removed, the two side panels become two retaining tracks behind which the central panel can slide up and down along the interior of the trash receptacle, and such that, when a liner bag is inserted into the interior of the trash receptacle, the composite vacuum release vent maintains an open airway between the liner bag and the interior of the receptacle, so as to prevent the creation of a partial vacuum as the liner bag expands upon filling.   
     
     
         7 . The composite vacuum release vent according to  claim 6 , wherein the side panels have a reverse surface upon which the attachment means are located. 
     
     
         8 . The composite vacuum release vent according to  claim 7 , wherein the detachable connector means enables the side panels to pivot with respect to the central panel through a range of oblique angles so as to cause the attachment means to conformably engage the interior of the trash receptacle. 
     
     
         9 . The composite vacuum release vent according to  claim 8 , wherein the central panel has one or more apertures that enable air to flow through the central panel. 
     
     
         10 . The composite vacuum release vent according to  claim 9 , wherein the central panel has a bottom lateral side that is contoured or notched to provide an opening for air to flow beneath the liner bag.