Trash can with handles that graspably support a recycled plastic shopping bag as a liner

Abstract

A trash receptacle is configured to use a shopping bag as a liner by hanging the shopping bag handles over handles or other extensions of the trash receptacle. Separating features such as protruding handle appendages and/or recessed or horizontally offset receptacle rims provide grasping spaces below the suspended bag handles into which a user's hands can be inserted for easy grasping of the bag handles during bag removal. The receptacle extensions can be fixed or removably attachable to the trash receptacle, or can be fixed to a removable receptacle adaptor. They can be curved and/or slanted inward. They can pivot inward during bag removal to relieve strain on the bag handles. Pivoting handles can be conveniently released by a foot pedal or by actuating a hand trigger while lifting the bag handles. A receptacle lid can be included, and a foot pedal can be used to operate the lid.

1 . A system for suspending a plastic shopping bag as a liner within a trash receptacle, the system comprising:
 at least two receptacle extensions at least attachable to the trash receptacle and extending upward at two opposing locations around a rim of the trash receptacle, the receptacle extensions being of a size and shape which allows bag handles of the plastic shopping bag to be placed over the receptacle extensions and suspended thereby, so that the plastic shopping bag is positioned within an interior of the trash receptacle; and   bag handle separating features that are at least cooperative with the receptacle extensions, the bag handle separating features being configured to separate a central portion of each of the suspended plastic shopping bag handles from the rim of the trash receptacle and from all other nearby structures, thereby enabling the fingers and thumbs of a user's hands to completely surround the central portions of the suspended shopping bag handles without disturbing the positions of the shopping bag handles or the nearby structures.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein each receptacle extension is a receptacle handle which can be used for lifting and carrying the trash receptacle. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein each receptacle extension includes a plurality of receptacle extension posts configured to extend outward from the rim of the trash receptacle. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the receptacle extension posts included in each receptacle extension are mechanically coupled to each other. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the bag handle separating features include lobes which extend outward from sides of the receptacle extensions and suspend the handles of the plastic shopping bag in a location that is vertically offset above the rim of the trash receptacle. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the receptacle extensions are formed as part of the trash receptacle. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the receptacle extensions are attachable to the trash receptacle. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein a mounting mechanism of the receptacle extensions does not obstruct nesting of a plurality of trash receptacles by more than one inch when the receptacle extensions are not attached to the trash receptacles. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the receptacle extensions can be removed from the trash receptacle after attachment thereto. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the receptacle extensions are attached to a rim adaptor, the rim adaptor being able to at least rest on top of the rim of the trash receptacle, the rim adaptor having a central opening through which the plastic shopping bag can extend from the receptacle extensions through the rim adaptor and into the interior of the trash receptacle. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the rim adaptor includes an adaptor region surrounding the opening, the adaptor region being configured to enable the rim adaptor to at least rest on trash receptacle rims having at least one dimension which varies over a range of at least 10%. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10 , further comprising a rim adaptor attachment mechanism adapted for attaching the rim adaptor to the rim of the trash receptacle. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the rim adaptor attachment mechanism is adjustable so as to attach the rim adaptor to trash receptacle rims having at least one dimension which varies over a range of at least 10%. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of each of the receptacle extensions is curved inward toward a center of the trash receptacle. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of each of the receptacle extensions slants inward toward a center of the trash receptacle. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the receptacle extensions includes a hinge about which the receptacle extension can pivot. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the receptacle extensions can pivot toward the interior of the trash receptacle. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the receptacle extensions can pivot away from the interior of the trash receptacle. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 a locking mechanism cooperative with at least one of the receptacle extensions, the locking mechanism being able to maintain the receptacle extension in a fixed orientation; and   a release trigger which can be actuated so as to release the locking mechanism and allow the receptacle extension to pivot.   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the release trigger is positioned in a location that allows the release trigger to be conveniently actuated by a hand of a user while the hand is lifting a bag handle off of a receptacle extension. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the release trigger is positioned in a location which allows the release trigger to be conveniently actuated by a foot of a user while the hand is lifting a bag handle off of a receptacle extension. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a lid which can be closed so as to cover the trash receptacle, the receptacle extensions being configured so as not to interfere with operation of the lid. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 22 , further comprising a foot pedal which is configured to open and close the lid by applying and removing foot pressure to the foot pedal. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a grasping feature of the receptacle extensions, the grasping feature being configured so as to facilitate grasping of the receptacle extensions by hands of a user. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the grasping feature is a plurality of indentations configured so as to allow fingers of a user to rest therein. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a decorative feature of the receptacle extensions, the decorative feature being configured so as to enhance an appearance of the receptacle extensions. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a pair of side flaps which are at least attachable to opposing inner sides of the trash receptacle and which are able to overlap opposing side portions of a rim of a shopping bag so as to hold the shopping bag open when the shopping bag is suspended within the trash receptacle. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the bag handle separating features include a shape feature of the rim of the trash receptacle that is cooperative with a receptacle extension so as to separate a shopping bag handle suspended by the receptacle extension from the rim of the trash receptacle. 
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein the shape feature includes a vertical recession of a portion of the rim of the trash receptacle directly beneath the receptacle extension. 
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein the receptacle extension includes a border which covers the recessed portion of the rim of the trash receptacle. 
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein the shape feature includes a horizontal offset of a portion of the rim of the trash receptacle which would otherwise be beneath the receptacle extension. 
     
     
         32 . A system for suspending a plastic shopping bag as a liner within a trash receptacle, the system comprising:
 a rim adaptor, the rim adaptor being able to at least rest on top of a rim of a trash receptacle, the rim adaptor having a central opening through which a plastic shopping bag can extend through the rim adaptor and into the interior of the trash receptacle.   at least two receptacle extensions at least attachable to the rim adaptor and extending upward at two opposing locations around the rim adaptor, the receptacle extensions being of a size and shape which allows bag handles of the plastic shopping bag to be placed over the receptacle extensions so as to position the plastic shopping bag through the central opening of the rim adaptor and into an interior of the trash receptacle; and   bag handle separating features at least cooperative with the receptacle extensions, the handle separating features being configured to provide a grasping space between the rim adaptor and the bag handles into which a user's hands can be inserted so as to facilitate grasping of the bag handles.   
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 32 , wherein the rim adaptor includes an adaptor region surrounding the opening, the adaptor region being configured to enable the rim adaptor to at least rest on trash receptacle rims having at least one dimension which varies over a range of at least 10%. 
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 32 , further comprising a rim adaptor attachment mechanism adapted for attaching the rim adaptor to the rim of a trash receptacle. 
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 34 , wherein the rim adaptor attachment mechanism is adjustable so as to attach the rim adaptor to trash receptacle rims having at least one dimension which varies over a range of at least 10%.