Liquid/refuse separation system

Abstract

A system to permit separation of liquid and solid refuse in a single trash bin receptacle to facilitate the reliable sanitary disposal of such mixed items is provided. The overall system includes a trash receptacle device for deposit and separation of liquid and solid refuse including a reservoir for separated liquids as well as an easy-to-use and -operate liquid removal component, and a removable thermoplastic, flexible collection bag with appropriately located openings that allow for fluid transfer via gravitational forces and yet still retains suitable dimensional stability to collect and retain substantially all deposited solid refuse during further transport. Such a new system is particularly useful in retail settings wherein quick clean-up of patrons' refuse is necessary without the requirement for inefficient separation of liquid and solid items by hand. Such a viable, reliable and effective liquid/solid separation bag as well as the method of use thereof is encompassed herein.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A multi-ply thermoplastic trash bag having an internal portion and a large opening permitting the placement of refuse therein, said bag exhibiting a thickness of at least 0.1 millimeters at its thinnest measurement between said internal and external portions, said trash bag including a plurality of elongated slits present therein within at least a portion of said bag that are of proper size to permit transfer of liquids therethrough said slits from said internal portion to a location external of said bag but not to permit solid refuse placed within said bag to transfer through the same slits; wherein said slits exhibit individual lengths of at most 1.5 centimeters and individual widths of at most 2 millimeters. 
     
     
         2 . The trash bag of  claim 1  wherein said elongated slits include reinforcements therein. 
     
     
         3 . A liquid/solid refuse separation system including a receptacle including one or more walls defining an internal cavity with a top open end and a closed bottom end, said top open end including a periphery to which said trash bag of  claim 1  may be releasably attached and from which said trash bag will extend from and into said internal cavity when attached in such a manner, said container including a reservoir component within said closed bottom end for the accumulated liquid separated from the solid refuse and transferred from the subject trash bag, said reservoir component further including a means for the selective transfer and removal of any liquid present therein to a location external to the internal cavity of said receptacle such that said reservoir will retain said liquid until said means is activated, and wherein said subject trash bag will not come into contact with said closed bottom end of said receptacle when releasably attached to said top end of said container. 
     
     
         4 . A method of liquid/solid refuse separation utilizing the system of  claim 3 , said method comprising the steps of:
 providing said trash bag,   providing said receptacle,   securing said trash bag over and around the periphery of said top open end of said receptacle such that said trash bag extends within the internal cavity of said receptacle but does not contact the closed bottom end thereof and such that the location of said plurality of elongated slits is present within the internal cavity of said receptacle, and   introducing refuse into said trash bag such that solid refuse too large to pass through said slits remains within said trash bag and liquids that are transported therein to said location of said slits within said trash bag will transfer through said slits into said closed bottom end of said receptacle.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  further including a step wherein said means for selective transfer of liquid from said receptacle is activated. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 3  wherein said receptacle includes a movable device underneath said closed bottom and external to the body thereof to facilitate transport of the receptacle to a different location on demand. 
     
     
         7 . A liquid/solid refuse separation system including a receptacle including one or more walls defining an internal cavity with a top open end and a closed bottom end, an integrated chute with an opening present adjacent to said top open end that leads directly to said closed bottom end, said top open end including a periphery to which said trash bag of  claim 1  may be releasably attached and from which said trash bag will extend from and into said internal cavity when attached in such a manner, said container including a reservoir component within said closed bottom end for the accumulated liquid separated from the solid refuse and transferred from the subject trash bag, said reservoir component further including a means for the selective transfer and removal of any liquid present therein to a location external to the internal cavity of said receptacle such that said reservoir will retain said liquid until said means is activated, and wherein said subject trash bag will not come into contact with said closed bottom end of said receptacle when releasably attached to said top end of said container. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7  wherein said receptacle includes a movable device underneath said closed bottom and external to the body thereof to facilitate transport of the receptacle to a different location on demand. 
     
     
         9 . A method of liquid/solid refuse separation utilizing the system of  claim 6 , said method comprising the steps of:
 providing said trash bag,   providing said receptacle,   securing said trash bag over and around the periphery of said top open end of said receptacle such that said trash bag extends within the internal cavity of said receptacle but does not contact the closed bottom end thereof and such that the location of said plurality of elongated slits is present within the internal cavity of said receptacle, and   introducing refuse into said trash bag such that solid refuse too large to pass through said slits remains within said trash bag and liquids that are transported therein to said location of said slits within said trash bag will transfer through said slits into said closed bottom end of said receptacle.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  further including a step wherein said means for selective transfer of liquid from said receptacle is activated. 
     
     
         11 . A method of liquid/solid refuse separation utilizing the system of  claim 7 , said method comprising the steps of:
 providing said trash bag,   providing said receptacle,   securing said trash bag over and around the periphery of said top open end of said receptacle such that said trash bag extends within the internal cavity of said receptacle but does not contact the closed bottom end thereof and such that the location of said plurality of elongated slits is present within the internal cavity of said receptacle,   introducing an amount of liquid refuse directly within said chute directly to said closed bottom end of said receptacle, and   introducing an amount of solid refuse, which may include amounts of liquid refuse, into said trash bag such that solid refuse too large to pass through said slits remains within said trash bag and liquids that are present within said trash bag and that are transported therein to said location of said slits within said trash bag will transfer through said slits into said closed bottom end of said receptacle.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  further including a step wherein said means for selective transfer of liquid from said receptacle is activated. 
     
     
         13 . A method of liquid/solid refuse separation utilizing the system of  claim 8 , said method comprising the steps of:
 providing said trash bag,   providing said receptacle,   securing said trash bag over and around the periphery of said top open end of said receptacle such that said trash bag extends within the internal cavity of said receptacle but does not contact the closed bottom end thereof and such that the location of said plurality of elongated slits is present within the internal cavity of said receptacle,   introducing an amount of liquid refuse directly within said chute directly to said closed bottom end of said receptacle, and   introducing an amount of solid refuse, which may include amounts of liquid refuse, into said trash bag such that solid refuse too large to pass through said slits remains within said trash bag and liquids that are present within said trash bag and that are transported therein to said location of said slits within said trash bag will transfer through said slits into said closed bottom end of said receptacle.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  further including a step wherein said means for selective transfer of liquid from said receptacle is activated. 
     
     
         15 . A liquid/solid refuse separation system including a receptacle including one or more walls defining an internal cavity with a top open end and a closed bottom end, said top open end including a periphery to which said trash bag is releasably attached and from which said trash bag will extend from and into said internal cavity when attached in such a manner, said container including a reservoir component within said closed bottom end for the accumulated liquid separated from the solid refuse and transferred from the subject trash bag, said reservoir component further including a means for the selective transfer and removal of any liquid present therein to a location external to the internal cavity of said receptacle such that said reservoir will retain said liquid until said means is activated, and wherein said subject trash bag will not come into contact with said closed bottom end of said receptacle when releasably attached to said top end of said container; wherein said trash bag is a multi-ply thermoplastic trash bag having an internal portion and a large opening permitting the placement of refuse therein, said bag exhibiting a thickness of at least 0.1 millimeters at its thinnest measurement between said internal and external portions, said trash bag including a plurality of elongated slits present therein within at least a portion of said bag that are of proper size to permit transfer of liquids therethrough said slits from said internal portion to a location external of said bag but not to permit solid refuse placed within said bag to transfer through the same slits; wherein said slits exhibit individual lengths of at most 1.5 centimeters and individual widths of at most 2 millimeters. 
     
     
         16 . A method of liquid/solid refuse separation utilizing the system of  claim 15 , said method comprising the steps of:
 providing said trash bag,   providing said receptacle,   securing said trash bag over and around the periphery of said top open end of said receptacle such that said trash bag extends within the internal cavity of said receptacle but does not contact the closed bottom end thereof and such that the location of said plurality of elongated slits is present within the internal cavity of said receptacle, and   introducing refuse into said trash bag such that solid refuse too large to pass through said slits remains within said trash bag and liquids that are transported therein to said location of said slits within said trash bag will transfer through said slits into said closed bottom end of said receptacle.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  further including a step wherein said means for selective transfer of liquid from said receptacle is activated. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 15  wherein said receptacle includes a movable device underneath said closed bottom and external to the body thereof to facilitate transport of the receptacle to a different location on demand. 
     
     
         19 . A liquid/solid refuse separation system including a receptacle including one or more walls defining an internal cavity with a top open end and a closed bottom end, an integrated chute with an opening present adjacent to said top open end that leads directly to said closed bottom end, said top open end including a periphery to which a trash bag is releasably attached and from which said trash bag will extend from and into said internal cavity when attached in such a manner, said container including a reservoir component within said closed bottom end for the accumulated liquid separated from the solid refuse and transferred from the subject trash bag, said reservoir component further including a means for the selective transfer and removal of any liquid present therein to a location external to the internal cavity of said receptacle such that said reservoir will retain said liquid until said means is activated, and wherein said subject trash bag will not come into contact with said closed bottom end of said receptacle when releasably attached to said top end of said container; wherein said trash bag is a multi-ply thermoplastic trash bag having an internal portion and a large opening permitting the placement of refuse therein, said bag exhibiting a thickness of at least 0.1 millimeters at its thinnest measurement between said internal and external portions, said trash bag including a plurality of elongated slits present therein within at least a portion of said bag that are of proper size to permit transfer of liquids therethrough said slits from said internal portion to a location external of said bag but not to permit solid refuse placed within said bag to transfer through the same slits; wherein said slits exhibit individual lengths of at most 1.5 centimeters and individual widths of at most 2 millimeters. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19  wherein said receptacle includes a movable device underneath said closed bottom and external to the body thereof to facilitate transport of the receptacle to a different location on demand. 
     
     
         21 . A method of liquid/solid refuse separation utilizing the system of  claim 19 , said method comprising the steps of:
 providing said trash bag,   providing said receptacle,   securing said trash bag over and around the periphery of said top open end of said receptacle such that said trash bag extends within the internal cavity of said receptacle but does not contact the closed bottom end thereof and such that the location of said plurality of elongated slits is present within the internal cavity of said receptacle,   introducing an amount of liquid refuse directly within said chute directly to said closed bottom end of said receptacle, and   introducing an amount of solid refuse, which may include amounts of liquid refuse, into said trash bag such that solid refuse too large to pass through said slits remains within said trash bag and liquids that are present within said trash bag and that are transported therein to said location of said slits within said trash bag will transfer through said slits into said closed bottom end of said receptacle.