FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a flexible organic waste receptacle, and more particularly, relates to a flexible organic waste receptacle for temporarily storing organic waste in a freezer or refrigerated area.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Temporarily storing organic waste, such as meat, chicken, vegetables, fruit and other kitchen organic waste is an important part of the process of recycling such materials, as it is common that the municipal collection of these materials may be on a weekly, biweekly or other regular but relatively infrequent basis, requiring that these waste materials be stored temporarily until municipal collection day, at which time they can be presented in an appropriate format for municipal collection. Similarly, in those regions where no municipal collection occurs, the temporary storage of organic waste until it can be appropriately disposed of or composted may be beneficial.

The temporary storage of organic waste materials can present many difficulties, as it can generate unpleasant odors, and can attract fruit flies and other insects, and if, for example, stored outdoors, can attract other animal and insect pests.

It is desirable to be able to refrigerate or temporarily freeze these organic waste materials, to minimize or eliminate the generation of unpleasant odors and the attraction of insects and other pests to the stored material. Additionally, it is desirable to provide a flexible organic waste receptacle that can be refrigerated or temporarily frozen, while at the same time allowing the receptacle to have flexible characteristics so that the contents of the receptacle can be readily removed therefrom without requiring anyone to directly come into contact with the contents of the receptacle during the emptying process. By making the temporary storage of organic waste materials odorless and convenient, people will be encouraged to compost and/or recycle organic waste material, encouraging sustainable environmental practices at the local level.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, one object of the present invention is to provide a flexible organic waste receptacle that can be refrigerated or temporarily frozen, adapted to receive and temporarily store and either refrigerate or temporarily freeze organic waste materials.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a flexible organic waste receptacle which is lightweight, easy to handle, space efficient and provides for the ready, easy and complete removal of the organic waste therefrom without requiring that anyone directly come in to contact with the organic waste during the process of emptying the organic waste from the receptacle.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a flexible organic waste receptacle that can be easily cleaned when emptied, and will not be readily stained from contact with the organic waste.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a receptacle for waste organic materials, comprising, at least one flexible gas and liquid impermeable wall, a flexible gas and liquid impermeable lower surface in gas and liquid impermeable engagement with the at least one flexible gas and liquid impermeable wall wherein the at least one flexible gas and liquid impermeable wall and the flexible gas and liquid impermeable lower surface define an interior of the receptacle adapted to receive and contain the waste organic materials.

An advantage of the present invention is that it provides a flexible organic waste receptacle that can be refrigerated or temporarily frozen, adapted to receive and temporarily store and either refrigerate or temporarily freeze organic waste materials.

A further advantage of the present invention is that it provides a flexible organic waste receptacle which is lightweight, easy to handle, space efficient and provides for the ready, easy and complete removal of the organic waste therefrom without requiring that anyone directly come in to contact with the organic waste during the process of emptying the organic waste from the receptacle.

A further advantage of the present invention is that it provides a flexible organic waste receptacle that can be easily cleaned when emptied, and will not be readily stained from contact with the organic waste.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A preferred embodiment of the present invention is described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a receptacle of one embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of one side wall and a portion of the bottom of the receptacle of one embodiment of the present invention in the upright orientation;

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of one side wall and a portion of the bottom of the receptacle of one embodiment of the present invention in the inverted orientation;

Figure 4 is a bottom view of one embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 5 is a side view of one embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 6 is an end view of one embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which the invention belongs. Although any methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the present invention, the preferred methods and materials are now described.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, as illustrated in Figures 1 , 4, 5 and 6, an empty flexible organic waste receptacle 2 is provided, preferably made of flexible silicone (or other materials known to a person skilled in the art that are smooth, strong, air-water-tight and flexible when frozen) , having, in a preferred embodiment, as illustrated in Figure 1 , a main body with a generally rounded box-like shape, preferably with side walls 12 and end walls 14 and preferably of a size so that it can readily be positioned and cleaned in a standard sized kitchen sink or dishwasher, the generally rounded corners 4 making it easy to remove the contents from the receptacle, and to clean the receptacle 2 in a dishwasher or kitchen sink (not shown). In alternative embodiments of the present invention, differently shaped organic waste receptacles may be provided, for example, various height and sized receptacles may be provided, or alternatively cylindrically shaped or oval-shaped organic waste receptacles may alternatively be provided, it being understood that shapes may be provided that are both functional and appeal to the eye as would be understood by persons skilled in the art. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the entire receptacle is a single solid piece of silicone shaped as described herein to form the receptacle, it being understood, that in alternative embodiments of the present invention multiple pieces of silicone may be shaped as described herein to form the receptacle.

In one embodiment of the present invention, a handle 10 is provided in secure engagement with, and preferably integrated with and around the main body as illustrated in Figures 1 , 5 and 6 which handle may be manufactured of the same flexible silicone material (or other material as referenced above) as is the main body of the receptacle. Organic waste (not shown) can be placed within the receptacle 2 as indicated at 6, and thereafter the receptacle 2 can be covered if desired (it being understood that the receptacle 2 need not be covered at the user's option). At the user's option, the receptacle can be covered by, for example by Saran Wrap or other covering material which may be secured to the lip 8 of the receptacle in a conventional manner. In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, an airtight cover (not shown) may be provided to seal the receptacle while the receptacle contains organic material. The receptacle 2 containing organic waste material (whether covered or not), may thereafter be positioned within a freezer, the sealed receptacle preventing odors and gases from being transferred from within the receptacle to the area outside the receptacle, namely the freezer compartment. While the organic waste material positioned within the receptacle is being refrigerated and/or frozen, the decomposition process will be substantially reduced or eliminated, further reducing the likelihood of any transfer of odors or gases from within the receptacle to the area outside the receptacle, namely the freezer compartment. Additionally, the refrigeration and freezing process, by reducing or eliminating decomposition, will reduce or eliminate the creation of gases and the resulting build up of pressure from within the receptacle in the event that the user has chosen to cover and seal the receptacle.

As illustrated in Figure 2, in one embodiment of the present invention, the handle 10 has an indentation 26 which may readily receive, for example, a user's thumb 20 when the receptacle is being held by the user in the upright orientation as illustrated in Figure 2 and additionally has an elongated extension 19 which may be readily grasped by a user's fingers 22 of any age (including individuals with little hand strength, disabilities such as motor dysfunctions, shaking, trouble grasping small objects or with relatively small hands) when the receptacle is being held by the user in the upright orientation as illustrated in Figure 2. When the receptacle is oriented in the inverted position as illustrated in Figure 3, the indentation 26 may readily receive for example, a user's fingers 22, the user's thumbs being positioned to press on the lower surface 28 of the receptacle with sufficient force to slightly deform the flexible lower surface 28 of the receptacle to aid in the separation and removal of the organic material from the receptacle as needed, it being understood that if necessary, the receptacle can be turned nearly inside out as needed to separate the waste material from the receptacle. The elongated extension 19 also distances a user' fingers from the frozen organic material contained within the receptacle. In one embodiment of the present invention, the preferred locations at which a user may press on the lower surface 28 may be visually marked by way of, for example, visual representations of raised fingerprints 31 appearing on the lower surface 28 at those locations as illustrated in Figures 4, 5 and 6. It is also understood that when emptying the receptacle, warm ambient temperature outside of the freezer/refrigerated area may begin to heat the walls and lower surface of the receptacle to facilitate the melting of the organic material at the points of contact between the organic material and the receptacle, to facilitate the clean and substantially residue-free removal of the organic material from the receptacle. Furthermore, the gently rounded corners of the interior of the receptacle further facilitate the clean and substantially residue- free removal of the organic material from the receptacle. Furthermore, to facilitate the clean and substantially residue-free removal of the organic material from the receptacle a user may gently pull on the lips 8 on opposite sides of the receptacle to separate the side walls and/or end walls of the receptacle from the frozen organic material. In an alternative embodiment of the present invention vertical pull tabs or partial lips may be affixed at or near the upper edge of the side walls and/or end walls which vertical pull tabs or partial lips may be pulled outwardly by the user to separate the side walls and/or end walls of the receptacle from the frozen organic material.

While the present invention has been described with reference to its use in the context of an organic waste receptacle, it is understood that this receptacle can also be used as a container for frozen food, as a general storage container or as a baking pan where silicone or other material having a sufficiently high melting point is utilized.

The present invention has been described herein with regard to preferred embodiments. However, it will be obvious to persons skilled in the art that a number of variations and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as described herein.