US 12,275,582 B2Granted

Sorting apparatus for separating a receptacle into multiple sections

OwnerRyan Collins, Jill Collinsinventors

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Abstract

A sorting apparatus for separating a receptacle into multiple sections includes a first member and a second member. The first member is slidable relative to the second member via respective overlaid portions, and the first member and the second member are configured to engage the receptacle via respective end portions, to secure the sorting apparatus to the receptacle. The sorting apparatus is operable to secure one or more bags or liners within separate sections of a cavity defined within the receptacle, and is operable to increase and/or decrease the volume of the separate sections of the cavity through additional sliding of the sorting apparatus when secured to the receptacle. The one or more bags are usable for separately collecting different types of waste such as trash, compostable material, and recyclables, allowing a user to partition the receptacle and increase ease of collecting compostable material and/or recyclables in addition to trash.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A sorting apparatus for a receptacle, comprising:

a first member comprising a first end portion at a first proximal end and a first overlaid portion at a first distal end, wherein the first end portion is configured to at least partially wrap around an upper edge of the receptacle;
and
a second member comprising a second overlaid portion at a second proximal end and a second end portion at a second distal end, wherein the second end portion is configured to at least partially wrap around the upper edge of the receptacle,
wherein the first member is couplable to the second member,
wherein the first overlaid portion of the first member is able to slide relative to the second overlaid portion of the second member between a first configuration and a second configuration for the sorting apparatus,
wherein at least one of the first end portion and the second end portion are disengaged from a respective upper edge of an opening of the receptacle when the sorting apparatus is in the first configuration,
wherein both the first end portion and the second end portion engage the respective upper edge of the opening of the receptacle when the sorting apparatus is in the second configuration to secure the sorting apparatus to the receptacle,
wherein securing the sorting apparatus to the receptacle retains respective portions of a first bag between the first end portion of the sorting apparatus and the upper edge of the receptacle, and the second end portion of the sorting apparatus and the upper edge of the receptacle, and within a first portion of a cavity defined within the receptacle that is accessible via the opening of the receptacle,
wherein securing the sorting apparatus to the receptacle retains respective portions of a second bag between the first end portion of the sorting apparatus and the upper edge of the receptacle, and the second end portion of the sorting apparatus and the upper edge of the receptacle, and within a second portion of the cavity defined within the receptacle that is accessible via the opening of the receptacle, and
wherein both the first end portion and the second end portion include a notch configured to hold a portion of one or more of the first bag and the second bag.

7 more elements

A system for separating a receptacle into multiple sections, comprising:

a first bag;
and
a sorting apparatus operable to be secured to the receptacle, the sorting apparatus comprising:
a first member comprising a first end portion at a first proximal end and a first overlaid portion at a first distal end, wherein the first end portion is configured to at least partially wrap around an upper edge of the receptacle;
and
a second member comprising a second overlaid portion at a second proximal end and a second end portion at a second distal end, wherein the second end portion is configured to at least partially wrap around the upper edge of the receptacle,
wherein the first member is couplable to the second member,
wherein the first overlaid portion of the first member is able to slide relative to the second overlaid portion of the second member between a first configuration and a second configuration for the sorting apparatus,
wherein at least one of the first end portion and the second end portion are disengaged from a respective upper edge of an opening of the receptacle when the sorting apparatus is in the first configuration, and
wherein both the first end portion and the second end portion engage the respective upper edge of the opening of the receptacle when the sorting apparatus is in the second configuration to secure the sorting apparatus to the receptacle,
wherein securing the sorting apparatus to the receptacle retains respective portions of the first bag between the first end portion of the sorting apparatus and the upper edge of the receptacle, and the second end portion of the sorting apparatus and the upper edge of the receptacle, and within a first portion of a cavity defined within the receptacle that is accessible via the opening of the receptacle,
wherein securing the sorting apparatus to the receptacle retains respective portions of a second bag between the first end portion of the sorting apparatus and the upper edge of the receptacle, and the second end portion of the sorting apparatus and the upper edge of the receptacle, and within a second portion of the cavity defined within the receptacle that is accessible via the opening of the receptacle, and
wherein both the first end portion and the second end portion include a notch configured to hold a portion of one or more of the first bag and the second bag.

10 more elements

A system for separating waste, comprising:

a receptacle;
a first bag and a second bag;
and
a sorting apparatus operable to be secured to the receptacle, the sorting apparatus comprising:
a first member comprising a first end portion at a first proximal end and a first overlaid portion at a first distal end, wherein the first end portion is configured to at least partially wrap around an upper edge of the receptacle;
and
a second member comprising a second overlaid portion at a second proximal end and a second end portion at a second distal end, wherein the second end portion is configured to at least partially wrap around the upper edge of the receptacle,
wherein the first member is couplable to the second member,
wherein the first overlaid portion of the first member is able to slide relative to the second overlaid portion of the second member between a first configuration and a second configuration for the sorting apparatus,
wherein at least one of the first end portion and the second end portion are disengaged from a respective upper edge of an opening of the receptacle when the sorting apparatus is in the first configuration, and
wherein both the first end portion and the second end portion engage the respective upper edge of the opening of the receptacle when the sorting apparatus is in the second configuration to secure the sorting apparatus to the receptacle,
wherein securing the sorting apparatus to the receptacle retains respective portions of a first bag between the first end portion of the sorting apparatus and the upper edge of the receptacle, and the second end portion of the sorting apparatus and the upper edge of the receptacle, and within a first portion of a cavity defined within the receptacle that is accessible via the opening of the receptacle,
wherein securing the sorting apparatus to the receptacle retains respective portions of a second bag between the first end portion of the sorting apparatus and the upper edge of the receptacle, and the second end portion of the sorting apparatus and the upper edge of the receptacle, and within a second portion of the cavity defined within the receptacle that is accessible via the opening of the receptacle, and
wherein both the first end portion and the second end portion include a notch configured to hold a portion of one or more of the first bag and the second bag.

11 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 18/106,583Filed 7 Feb 2023 · us provisional application
Priority: 11 Feb 2022
Published: US 2023/0294913 A121 Sep 2023
Granted: 15 Apr 2025
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification4 codes

B65F 1/0033
Refuse receptacles; Accessories therefor: specially adapted for segregated refuse collecting, e.g. receptacles with several compartments;…
B65F 1/0046
The receptacles being divided in compartments by partitions: the partitions being movable, e.g. for varying the volume of the compartments
B65F 1/067
With flexible inserts, e.g. bags or sacks: with a plurality of flexible inserts
B65F
Gathering or removal of domestic or like refuse