Inflatable Bag

Abstract

An inflatable trash bag which may be designed for use in the home, automobile, office or hospital, the bag comprising an inner liner of nonexpandable material and an outer shell of expandable material so to form an airtight air space therebetween, the bag including an air valve so to inflate the air space between the liner and shell and thus make the bag rigid, and the bag including a top wall comprised of a single sheet of expandable material having a central slot for receiving refuse therethrough, and the bag including a tab having an opening for the purpose of hanging upon a securing hook.

Description

SPECIFICATION

This invention relates generally to trash bags.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide an improved trash bag which is designed particularly for the disposal of refuse containing germs, or which has an odor, and which is accordingly readily adaptable so to maintain sanitary conditions.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an inflatable bag which is particularly adaptable for use in the home, automobile, professional offices as well as hospitals and the like.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an inflatable bag which is readily adaptable for receiving contaminated and soiled paper tissues, surgical dressings, swabs and the like.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an inflatable bag which may be kept in an uninflated and compact condition prior to use so as to not take up much space, and which is readily inflatable so as to stand up in a rigid manner when it is intended to be used.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide an inflatable bag which is simple in design, inexpensive to manufacture, rugged in construction, easy to use and efficient in operation.

These and other objects will be readily evident upon a study of the following specification and the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, the reference numeral 10 represents an inflatable bag according to the present invention wherein there is a bag body 11 which is comprised of an outer, expandable shell 12 and a nonexpandable inner liner 13 in spaced apart relation so as to provide an air space 14 therebetween. This double wall construction is provided around the side wall 15 of the body as well as the bottom wall 16.

A top wall 17 made of expandable material comprises only a single thickness and does not include the inner liner, as shown in FIG. 2 of the drawing. The top wall 17 includes a central slot 18 through which refuse may be deposited into the central compartment 19 within the bag body.

A tab 20 is secured to a rear edge and rear side of the side wall 15, the tab 20 having a slot 21 therein so as to be readily fitted over a hook or supporting nail or the like.

A one way air valve 22 is secured to the expandable shell of the side wall for the purpose of inflating the air space 14 between the shell and liner. It will thus be readily apparent that the shell and liner are made of an airtight material so that the inflated air space will hold the air forced therein through the air valve 22.

In operative use, when it is desired to dispose an item of refuse, the lips of the slot 18 will readily part so as to provide sufficient space for introducing the refuse item, after which the slot 18 will again close up thus preventing germs or foul odor from leaving outward from the compartment 19. It will thus be readily evident that the expandable top wall 17 will be sufficiently flexible.

The inflatable bag may be made in a model whereby it is disposable after it has become filled with refuse. Accordingly a suggested material for the inflatable bag would comprise polyethylene plastic or the equivalent, and the valve 22 may be of inexpensive rigid plastic. It may be attractively colored so as to hide the refuse contained therein.

The inflatable bag may be variously modified in construction such as the use of rubber sheeting for the expandable shell and plastic sheeting for the inner liner so as to be nonexpandable and yet wherein both elements are of airtight material.

It is to be noted that a plurality of webs 23 may be provided between the outer shell and inner liner, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, so to maintain a generally equal space 14 all around between the shell and liner; the webs being provided at the corners 24 of the inflatable bag.

While various changes may be made in the detailed construction, it is understood that such changes will be within the spirit and scope of the present invention as is defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. In an inflatable bag, the combination of a bag body said bag body being made collapsed for purpose of compact storage, said bag body having self contained means for being expanded so to stand up in operative use, said means comprising an outer shell and an inner liner, said shell being made of an expandable material, said liner being made of a nonexpandable material, said shell and said liner being in spaced apart relation so to form an air space therebetween so as to maintain said bag body in an erect upstanding position, said bag body including a side wall fully around, a bottom wall, and a top wall, said sidewall and said bottom wall including said outer shell and said inner liner, while said top wall comprises only said expandable outer shell, said top wall including a central slot for purpose of receiving refuse therethrough, and said side wall including a one way air valve secured to said shell so as to allow entry of air into

2. The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein a tab is secured to a rear side of said body, said tab extending upwardly of an upper edge thereof, said tab having an opening therethrough so to be received upon a

3. The combination as set forth in claim 2 wherein a plurality of webs are secured between said shell and liner so to maintain said air space equidistance all around therebetween, said webs being located at the corner of said bag body.