Waste Storage Device

Abstract

A sealing mechanism for a waste storage container includes a waste storage container that has a body, a lid and a cartridge adapted to be positioned in the body. The cartridge has a continuous length of storage film therein. The storage film emanates through a gap between a rim and a core tube of the cartridge and is folded down through a core opening in the core tube into an interior space of the body of the waste storage container. The sealing mechanism includes an actuator accessible from outside the body, a gear assembly operably connected to the actuator, a retaining assembly that holds stationary a dispensed portion of the storage film in the interior space of the body during a twist-closure operation, and a plunger operably connected to the gear assembly

The invention claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for containing a waste package, comprising:
 a container having a bottom wall and a side wall connected to said bottom wall, the bottom and side wall at least partially defining an inner volume, said container defining a central vertical axis running vertically upward and perpendicular from said bottom wall;   a cartridge having a length of flexible film for receiving waste inside said waste disposal device; and   a revolution counting mechanism having an electronic sensing device,   wherein said cartridge having a tubular core opening, said cartridge having a cartridge sensing device such that said revolution counting mechanism recognizes said cartridge sensing device in relation to said central vertical axis,   wherein said revolution counting mechanism identifies the total number of revolutions required to create a seal thereby containing said waste within said film in said inner volume.   
     
     
         2 . The waste disposal device of  claim 1 , wherein said revolution counting device is a laser beam mechanism. 
     
     
         3 . The waste disposal device of  claim 1 , wherein said cartridge further comprises a cartridge body, wherein said cartridge sensing device is on said cartridge body. 
     
     
         4 . The waste disposal device of  claim 1 , wherein said cartridge further comprises a cartridge top, wherein said cartridge sensing device is on said cartridge top. 
     
     
         5 . The waste disposal device as in any one of  claims 1 ,  3 , and  4 , wherein said cartridge sensing device is at least one of an aperture, a strip and a bar. 
     
     
         6 . A waste disposal device, comprising:
 a container having a bottom wall and a side wall connected to said bottom wall, the bottom and side wall at least partially defining an inner volume, said container having an upper portion and a lower portion defining said inner volume, said inner volume defining a storage chamber;   a length of flexible film for receiving waste inside said waste disposal device, said length of flexible film operably connected to a cartridge;   a clutch assembly located in said upper portion of said container;   a sealing mechanism located proximal said clutch assembly such that said sealing mechanism is operably connected to said clutch assembly; and   a rack gear operably connected to said clutch assembly such that movement of said rack gear in a first direction causes said clutch assembly to rotate in a first rotational direction, wherein said clutch assembly causes said sealing mechanism to form a seal after a waste package has passed by said sealing mechanism,   wherein said clutch assembly is a one-way clutch such that said sealing mechanism remains substantially static and said seal is maintained.   
     
     
         7 . The waste disposal device of  claim 6 , further comprising a biasing mechanism, wherein movement of said rack gear in said first direction causes said biasing mechanism to compress. 
     
     
         8 . The waste disposal device of  claim 7 , wherein movement of said rack gear in a second direction corresponds to the release of said biasing mechanism. 
     
     
         9 . The waste disposal device of  claim 8 , wherein said biasing mechanism is at least one spring. 
     
     
         10 . The waste disposal device of  claim 6 , further comprising a lid permitting an open configuration and a closed configuration. 
     
     
         11 . The waste disposal device of  claim 6 , wherein said seal is a tie-off near an upper end of said flexible film. 
     
     
         12 . The waste disposal device of  claim 6 , wherein said flexible film is rotatable to twist said flexible film. 
     
     
         13 . The waste disposal device of  claim 6 , wherein said sealing mechanism is a diaphragm.