초록 ▼

Waste disposal device includes a container defining a waste-receiving compartment having an opening, a lid connected to the container and having a closed position covering the opening of the container and an open position in which the opening is exposed, and a twisting assembly that engages with and

Waste disposal device includes a container defining a waste-receiving compartment having an opening, a lid connected to the container and having a closed position covering the opening of the container and an open position in which the opening is exposed, and a twisting assembly that engages with and twists or untwists a bag or tubing that extends through the twisting assembly and into which waste is inserted. A manual actuator or controller has a first position in engagement with the twisting assembly to enable manual rotation of the twisting assembly and a second position out of engagement with the twisting assembly. When the manual actuator is in the first position, the twisting assembly is manually rotatable in at least one direction, and possibly both, and in the second position, the manual actuator is freely movable.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A waste disposal device, comprising: a container defining a waste-receiving compartment having an opening;a lid connected to said container, said lid having a first, closed position covering said opening of said container and a second, open position in which said opening is exposed;a twisting ass

1. A waste disposal device, comprising: a container defining a waste-receiving compartment having an opening;a lid connected to said container, said lid having a first, closed position covering said opening of said container and a second, open position in which said opening is exposed;a twisting assembly arranged in said container to engage with and twist or untwist a bag or tubing that extends through said twisting assembly and into which waste is inserted; anda manual actuator having a first position in engagement with said twisting assembly and a second, different position out of engagement with said twisting assembly,said manual actuator being manually switchable in a first direction of movement between said first and second positions,said manual actuator being arranged to selectively engage with said twisting assembly such that movement of said manual actuator, in a second direction of movement different than the first direction of movement and while said manual actuator is in said first position, causes rotation of said twisting assembly in at least one direction and movement of said manual actuator, in the second direction and while said manual actuator is in said second position, does not cause rotation of said twisting assembly. 2. The device of claim 1, wherein said container comprises a support flange defining said opening, said twisting assembly being movably seated on said support flange and comprising a twisting member having an outer wall, said actuator being arranged to contact said outer wall of said twisting member when in said first position. 3. The device of claim 2, wherein said outer wall of said twisting member includes a series of teeth formed thereon to thereby constitute a gear rim, said actuator including a twisting assembly engagement portion having a series of teeth or projections that contact said gear rim when said actuator is in said first position. 4. The device of claim 2, further comprising a covering on said outer wall of said twisting member and made of a pliable material, said actuator including a twisting assembly engagement portion having a series of teeth or projections that contact said covering when said actuator is in said first position. 5. The device of claim 2, further comprising a covering on said outer wall of said twisting member and made of a pliable material, said actuator including a twisting assembly engagement portion having at least one projection to that frictionally contacts said covering when said actuator is in said first position. 6. The device of claim 1, wherein said actuator incorporates a spring that biases said actuator into the second position such that when manual force is not applied to said actuator, said actuator is in said second position. 7. The device of claim 1, wherein said container includes an elongate slot on an outer wall of said container, said actuator including a manual contact portion slidable in said slot, a twisting assembly engagement portion that contacts said twisting assembly when said actuator is in said first position, a connecting portion that connects said manual contact portion to said twisting assembly engagement portion, and a spring adjacent said twisting assembly engagement portion and that biases said actuator into said second position such that when manual force is not applied to said actuator, said actuator is in said second position. 8. The device of claim 7, wherein said container comprises a support flange defining said opening, said twisting assembly being movably seated on said support flange, said spring contacting said support flange when said actuator is in said first position, said spring being in the form of a deflection spring having two edge parts extending in opposite directions from a base, whereby when said actuator is pressed into contact with said twisting assembly, said edge parts contact a surface of said support flange and are flexed outward against their normal curvature, and when pressure on said actuator is released, said spring returns to its normal state and thereby removes said twisting assembly engagement portion from contact with said twisting assembly to enable said actuator to be freely movable in said slot. 9. The device of claim 7, wherein said actuator is slidable in two opposite directions in said slot to thereby enable: the bag or tubing to be twisted when the bag or tubing is engaged with said twisting assembly by moving said actuator in a first direction while said actuator is in said first position anda previously formed twist or knot in the bag or tubing to be untwisted or unknotted when the bag or tubing is engaged with said twisting assembly by moving said actuator in a second direction in said slot opposite to said first direction while said actuator is in said first position. 10. The device of claim 1, further comprising a support member that supports the bag or tubing and that is arranged in said container in a position to enable waste to be inserted into the bag or tubing, said container including a mechanism to prevent rotation of said support member when said twisting assembly rotates. 11. The device of claim 1, wherein said container comprises a transparent window that enables viewing of an interior of said container and is arranged relative to said twisting assembly such that when a bag is engaged with said twisting assembly, a twist or knot in said bag formed by said twisting assembly is viewable through said window. 12. A waste disposal device, comprising: a container defining a waste-receiving compartment having an opening, said container including an outer wall having an elongate slot;a lid connected to said container, said lid having a first, closed position covering said opening of said container and a second, open position in which said opening is exposed;a twisting assembly arranged in said container to engage with and twist or untwist a bag or tubing that extends through said twisting assembly and into which waste is inserted; anda manual actuator movable in said slot in a radial direction into and out of engagement with said twisting assembly,said manual actuator being arranged to selectively engage with said twisting assembly such that movement of said manual actuator longitudinally in said slot in at least one direction while said manual actuator is in engagement with said twisting assembly causes rotation of said twisting assembly and movement of said manual actuator longitudinally in said slot while said manual actuator is out of engagement with said twisting assembly does not cause rotation of said twisting assembly. 13. The device of claim 12, wherein said container comprises a support flange defining said opening, said twisting assembly being movably seated on said support flange and comprising a twisting member having an outer wall, said actuator being arranged to contact said outer wall of said twisting member when said actuator is in engagement with said twisting assembly. 14. The device of claim 13, wherein said outer wall of said twisting assembly includes a series of teeth formed thereon to thereby constitute a gear rim, said actuator including a twisting assembly engagement portion having a series of teeth or projections that contact said gear rim when said actuator is in engagement with said twisting assembly. 15. The device of claim 13, further comprising a covering on said outer wall of said twisting member and made of a pliable material, said actuator including a twisting assembly engagement portion having a series of teeth or projections that contacts said covering when said actuator is in engagement with said twisting assembly. 16. The device of claim 13, further comprising a covering on said outer wall of said twisting member and made of a pliable material, said actuator including a twisting assembly engagement portion having at least one projection that frictionally. 17. The device of claim 12, wherein said actuator incorporates a spring that biases said actuator out of engagement with said twisting assembly such that when manual force is not applied to said actuator, said actuator is out of engagement with said twisting assembly. 18. The device of claim 12, wherein said actuator includes a manual contact portion slidable in said slot, a twisting assembly engagement portion that contacts said twisting assembly, a connecting portion that connects said manual contact portion to said twisting assembly engagement portion, and a spring adjacent said twisting assembly engagement portion and that is biases said actuator out of engagement with said twisting assembly such that when manual force is not applied to said actuator, said actuator is out of engagement with said twisting assembly. 19. The device of claim 18, wherein said container comprises a support flange defining said opening, said twisting assembly being movably seated on said support flange, said spring contacting said support flange when said actuator is in engagement with said twisting assembly, said spring being in the form of a deflection spring having two edge parts extending in opposite directions from a base, whereby when said actuator is pressed into engagement with said twisting assembly, said edge parts contact a surface of said support flange and are flexed outward against their normal curvature, and when pressure on said actuator is released, said spring returns to its normal state and thereby removes said twisting assembly engagement portion from contact with said twisting assembly to enable said actuator to be freely movable in said slot. 20. The device of claim 12, further comprising a support member that supports the bag or tubing and that is arranged in said container in a position to enable waste to be inserted into the bag or tubing, said container including a mechanism to prevent rotation of said support member when said twisting assembly rotates. 21. The device of claim 12, wherein said actuator is slidable in two opposite directions in said slot to thereby enable: the bag or tubing to be twisted when the bag or tubing is engaged with said twisting assembly by moving said actuator in a first direction when said actuator is in engagement with said twisting assembly, anda previously formed twist or knot in the bag or tubing to be untwisted or unknotted when the bag or tubing is engaged with said twisting assembly by moving said actuator in a second direction in said slot opposite to said first direction when said actuator is in engagement with said twisting assembly. 22. The device of claim 12, wherein said container comprises a transparent window that enables viewing of an interior of said container and is arranged relative to said twisting assembly such that when a bag is engaged with said twisting assembly, a twist or knot in said bag formed by said twisting assembly is viewable through said window. 23. A waste disposal device, comprising: a container defining a waste-receiving compartment having an opening and including a slot on an outer wall of said container;a lid connected to said container, said lid having a first, closed position covering said opening of said container and a second, open position in which said opening is exposed;a twisting assembly arranged in said container to engage with and twist or untwist a bag or tubing that extends through said twisting assembly and into which waste is inserted, said twisting assembly comprising an outer wall including a series of teeth arranged thereon to thereby constitute a gear rim; anda manual actuator having a first position in contact with said gear rim of said twisting assembly to enable manual rotation of said twisting assembly and a second position out of contact with said gear rim of said twisting assembly,said manual actuator including a manual contact portion slidable in said slot and adapted to be held and moved by a user of the device,said manual actuator being arranged to selectively contact said gear rim of said twisting assembly such that movement of said manual actuator while said manual actuator is in said first position causes rotation of said twisting assembly in at least one direction and movement of said manual actuator while said manual actuator is in said second position does not cause rotation of said twisting assembly.