Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02656449 2009-02-27
1 Dividable Step Garbage Can
2
3 FIELD OF THE INVENTION
4 [0001] The invention broadly relates to garbage cans, in particular to
garbage cans
having the means to secure at least two garbage bags therein.
6
7 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
8 [0002] Garbage cans are well known. Generally, a garbage can comprises an
open top
9 container often including a lid attached thereto, wherein the container is
adapted to receive an
open garbage bag therein for receiving disposed items. The upper margin of a
garbage bag held
11 within the container is often draped over the upper edge of the container,
and the bag maintains
12 its position within the container primarily by means of frictional forces
between the bag and the
13 upper edge of the container.
14 [0003] Accordingly, a problem with prior garbage cans is that the upper
margin of a
garbage bag held therein tends to get pulled off the upper edge and fall to
the bottom of the
16 container, leaving a user with the unpleasant and unhygienic task of
retrieving an often soiled
17 garbage bag from the bottom of a dirty garbage can. Attempts to solve this
problem often involve
18 elaborate garbage bag designs, which may include such structures as elastic
upper margins,
19 draw strings, etc. The design of garbage cans, however, have remained
largely unchanged.
[0004] Another problem with prior garbage cans is that they can hold only one
garbage
21 bag effectively. Considering the frictional engagement of the bag and the
top edge of the
22 container is often insufficient to maintain the position of a single
garbage bag, as described
23 above, the ability of prior garbage cans to hold two garbage bags side by
side within the
24 container is negligible at best, as the portion of each bag adjacent to the
other bag would not be
in contact with the top edge, thus, reducing an already ineffectual frictional
engagement.
26 [0005] Even assuming, arguendo, that the positions of two adjacent garbage
bags could
27 be temporarily maintained, for example, by not disturbing them with the
disposal of garbage,
28 there would likely be a gap between the bags, due to the amorphous nature
of the material of
29 the bags, thus allowing garbage to fall to the bottom of the container
between the bags.
Certainly, this would also leave the user with the unpleasant and unhygienic
task of retrieving
31 garbage from the bottom of a dirty garbage can. Moreover, each bag would
invariably be
32 dragged to the bottom of the container when the user attempts to dispose of
items into the
33 garbage can which, as stated above, is unhygienic. Accordingly, prior
garbage cans are not
34 effective for users wishing to separate different types of garbage into two
bags within one can,
21859771.1 1
CA 02656449 2009-02-27
1 as may be the case, for example, when required to separate different types
of recyclable
2 garbage.
3 [0006] Thus, there is a longfelt need for garbage can having the means to
effectively and
4 hygienically hold at least two garbage bags therein.
6 BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
7 [0007] Broadly, the present invention is a garbage can comprising: a can
portion having
8 a bottom wall, a tubular wall extending upwardly from the bottom wall and
including an upper
9 rim, an inner chamber defined by the bottom wall and the tubular wall, and
an open top; a bar
adapted to be removably secured to a first and a second location on the upper
rim, wherein the
11 bar is arranged to extend over the inner chamber between the first and the
second location on
12 the rim when removably secured thereto; a ring having a recessed under
surface adapted to
13 receive the upper rim therein, the ring being pivotally coupled to the
container and arranged to
14 pivot onto and off of the upper rim; and, a lid pivotally coupled to the
container and arranged to
pivot onto and off of the ring when the ring is arranged on the upper rim,
wherein the ring is
16 adapted to secure a flexible material between the recessed under surface
and the upper rim.
17 [0008] In one embodiment, the garbage further comprises a: step pedal
pivotably
18 connected to the bottom wall; and, a lift arm having a bottom end and a top
end, wherein the lift
19 arm is pivotably connected to the step pedal at the bottom end and
pivotably connected to the lid
at the top end, and the step pedal is arranged to lever the lift arm upwardly
when pivoted in a
21 first direction, and the lift arm is arranged to pivot the lid off of the
ring when levered upwardly by
22 the step pedal.
23 [0009] A general object of the present invention is to provide a garbage
can which is
24 arranged to effectively and hygienically hold at least two garbage bags
therein.
[0010] These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be
readily
26 appreciable from the following description of preferred embodiments of the
invention and from
27 the accompanying drawings and claims.
28
29 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] The nature and mode of operation of the present invention will now be
more fully
31 described in the following detailed description of the invention taken with
the accompanying
32 drawing figures of an exemplary embodiment thereof, in which:
21859771.1 2
CA 02656449 2009-02-27
1 Figure 1 is a perspective view of the present invention garbage can, shown
2 holding two garbage bags therein;
3 Figure 2 is a perspective view of the garbage can, shown with its lid in a
closed
4 position;
Figure 3 is a perspective view of the garbage can, shown with the lid in an
open
6 position and its retainer ring partially pivoted;
7 Figure 4 is a perspective view of the garbage can, shown with the lid and
the
8 retainer ring in the open position;
9 Figure 5 is an exploded perspective view of the garbage can;
Figure 6 is a side elevational vie of the bar of the garbage can;
11 Figure 7 is a top, front perspective view of the retainer ring;
12 Figure 8 is an enlarged top, back perspective view of a bracket of the
retainer
13 ring;
14 Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view taken generally along line 9-9 in Figure
1;
Figure 10 is a bottom, back perspective view of the lid;
16 Figure 11 is an enlarged perspective view of a mounting bracket of a can
portion
17 of the garbage can;
18 Figure 12 is a bottom plan view of the garbage can;
19 Figure 13 is a back elevational view of the garbage can;
Figure 14 is a right side elevational view of the garbage can, shown with the
lid in
21 the closed position; and,
22 Figure 15 is a right side elevational view of the garbage can, shown with
the lid
23 lifted by a step pedal mechanism of the garbage can.
24
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
26 [0012] At the outset, it should be appreciated that like drawing numbers on
different
27 drawing views identify identical, or functionally similar, structural
elements of the invention.
28 While the present invention is described with respect to what is presently
considered to be the
29 preferred aspects, it is to be understood that the invention as claimed is
not limited to the
disclosed aspects.
31 [0013] Furthermore, it is understood that this invention is not limited to
the particular
32 methodology, materials and modifications described and as such may, of
course, vary. It is also
33 understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of
describing particular aspects
34 only, and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention,
which is limited only by the
appended claims.
21859771.1 3
CA 02656449 2009-02-27
1 [0014] Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used
herein have the
2 same meaning as commonly understood to one of ordinary skill in the art to
which this invention
3 belongs. It should be appreciated that the terms "front", "back", "left",
"right", "top", and "bottom"
4 when used herein, are relative terms meant to refer to the viewing
perspective shown in the
figures.
6 [0015] Although many methods, devices or materials similar or equivalent to
those
7 described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the invention,
the preferred methods,
8 devices, and materials are now described.
9 [0016] The following description is best understood in view of Figures 1-15,
which show
an exemplary embodiment of the present invention garbage can, hereinafter
referred to as
11 "garbage can 100". Garbage can 100 generally comprises can portion 110, bar
130, ring 150,
12 and lid 170. In a preferred embodiment, the present invention garbage
includes a hands-free
13 means for lifting the lid, such as a step mechanism. For example, garbage
can 100 may
14 comprise a step mechanism which includes step pedal 190 and lift arm 210,
as described in
further detail infra.
16 [0017] Can portion 110 includes horizontally arranged bottom wall 111,
tubular wall 112
17 extending upwardly from bottom wall 111, inner chamber 105 defined bottom
wall 111 and
18 tubular wall 112, and open top 106. Tubular wall 112 may have a cross-
sectional shape
19 resembling any closed figure, for example, a circle or rectangle. In the
embodiment shown in the
figures, the cross-sectional shape of tubular wall 112 is substantially
rectangular, thereby
21 defining front wall 113, back wall 115, left side wall 114, and right side
wall 117. Tubular wall 112
22 includes upper rim 116. The term "upper rim" when used herein refers to the
upper margin of the
23 tubular wall, not simply the top edge of the tubular wall, which is shown
in the figures and
24 referred to herein as "top edge 116a". Inner chamber is arranged to receive
at least one open
garbage bag therein. However, inner chamber 105 is preferably arranged to
receive at least two
26 open garbage bags, such as first garbage bag 50 and second garbage bag 60.
27 [0018] The present invention garbage can also comprises a bar adapted to be
28 removably secured to a first and a second location on the upper rim of the
tubular wall, wherein
29 the bar is arranged to extend over the inner chamber between the first and
the second location
on the upper rim when removably secured thereto. The bar is adapted to divide
the open top of
31 the can portion into two apertures and is preferably adapted to
simultaneously secure at least a
32 portion of two open garbage bags arranged within the open chamber to the
upper rim, in order to
33 help prevent the two garbage bags from falling to the bottom of the can
portion.
34 [0019] For example, as shown in the figures, garbage can 100 comprises bar
130. Bar
130 includes a first end, which comprises first hook 132 arranged above first
tab 133, and a
21859771.1 4
CA 02656449 2009-02-27
1 second end, which comprises second hook 134 arranged above second tab 135.
Bar 130 may
2 be removably secured to a first and a second location on tubular wall 112,
such that it extends
3 across open top 106 over inner chamber 105, by simply clasping first hook
132 to a first location
4 on upper rim 116, and clasping second hook 134 to a second location on upper
rim 116.
[0020] However, in the embodiment shown in the figures, tubular wall 112
includes first
6 slot 113b in upper rim 116 of front wall 113, and second slot 115b in upper
rim 116 of back wall
7 115. First slot 113b is arranged to slidingly receive first tab 133, and
second slot 115b is
8 arranged to slidingly receive second tab 135. Bar 130 may be removably
secured to upper rim
9 116 at first location by clasping first hook 132 to upper rim 116 above
first slot 11 3b, such that
first tab 132 is inserted within first slot 113b, and clasping second hook 134
to upper rim 116
11 above second slot 115b, such that second tab 134 is inserted within second
slot 115b. The
12 arrangement of first and second tabs, 133 and 135, within first and second
slots, 113b and
13 115b, respectively, helps keep bar 130 stationary on upper rim 116 by
preventing it from sliding
14 on top edge 116a.
[0021] Bar 130 also includes left side wall 130a and right side wall 130b.
Left and right
16 side walls, 130a and 130b, extend along the length of bar 130, are
substantially parallel to each
17 other, and substantially vertically disposed. Left and right side walls,
130a and 130b, are
18 arranged to trap a portion of each of two garbage bags arranged within
inner chamber 105.
19 [0022] As shown in Figures 1 and 7, first bag 50, having interior 55, and
second bag 60,
having interior 65, are each arranged within inner chamber 105 such that one
portion of the
21 upper margin of each bag hangs overtop edge 116a, and the remaining portion
of the upper
22 margin of each bag extends between front wall 113 and back wall 115. In
this figure, bar 130 is
23 shown trapping a portion of the upper margin of each of first and second
garbage bags, 50 and
24 60, between left and right side walls, 130a and 130b, and securing a
portion of each of said
bags to upper rim 116 by trapping such portions underneath first and second
hooks, 132 and
26 134. Additionally, bar 130 preferably includes a longitudinally beveled top
surface, as illustrated
27 with the broken line shown extending along the length of the top of bar 130
between first and
28 second hooks, 132 and 134. Such beveling provides two pitched surfaces
along the top of bar
29 130, one which extends downwardly toward first bag 50 and one which extends
downwardly
toward second bag 60, each of which helps guide items into the bag toward
which it extends.
31 [0023] The present invention garbage can also comprises a retainer ring
pivotably
32 coupled to the can portion and arranged to pivot onto and off of the upper
rim of the tubular wall.
33 The retainer ring includes a recessed under surface adapted to receive the
upper rim therein.
34 Thus, when garbage bags are arranged within the inner chamber such that
their upper margins
21859771.1 5
CA 02656449 2009-02-27
1 hang over the top edge of the tubular wall, the retainer ring is arranged to
secure such upper
2 margins of the bags to the upper rim by trapping them between the recessed
under surface and
3 the top edge.
4 [0024] For example, garbage can 100 comprises ring 150 which comprises
recessed
under surface 151. Ring 150 is pivotably coupled to tubular wall 116 and
arranged to pivot onto
6 and off of upper rim 116, as illustrated with the arrows shown in Figure 3.
In the embodiment
7 shown in the figures, the portion of bar 130 between first hook 132 and
second hook 134 is
8 arranged elevationally lower than top edge 116a when bar 130 is removably
secured to upper
9 rim 116. This arrangement allows ring 150 to fit over upper rim 116 without
obstruction, i.e., first
and second hooks, 132 and 134, are also receivable within recessed under
surface 151. Thus,
11 as shown in Figures 1 and 7, ring 150 is adapted to secure first and second
garbage bags, 50
12 and 60, to upper rim 116 by trapping their upper margins between recessed
under surface 151
13 and top edge 11 6a, thereby preventing them from falling to the bottom of
can portion 110.
14 [0025] The present invention retainer ring may be pivotably coupled to the
can portion by
any means known in the art. For example, as shown in the figures, can portion
110 include
16 mounting bracket 120 arranged on upper rim 116 of back wall 115. As shown
in Figure 11,
17 mounting bracket 120 includes first and second pivot pins, 122 and 124,
respectively. Ring 150
18 includes bracket 152 having first and second apertures, 152a and 152b,
respectively. First and
19 second apertures, 152a and 152b, are arranged to receive first and second
pivot pins, 122 and
124, therein, and when received therein, ring 150 is arranged to pivot on
first and second pivot
21 pins, 122 and 124, i.e., ring 150 is pivotably coupled to can portion 110.
22 [0026] Thus, the positions of two adjacent garbage bags, such as first bag
50 and
23 second bag 60, can be effectively held in garbage can 100, as left and
right side walls, 130a and
24 130b, enclose the upper margins of each bag which are not in contact with
upper rim 116,
thereby covering any gap that may form therebetween, first and second hooks,
132 and 134,
26 cover and secure a portion of the upper margins of the bags to upper rim
116, and ring 150
27 covers and secures all the upper margins of the bags draped over upper rim
116, including
28 those portions which are underneath first and second hooks, 132 and 134.
29 [0027] The present invention garbage can also comprises a lid pivotably
coupled to the
can portion, and arranged to pivot onto and off of the retainer ring, when the
retainer ring is
31 arranged on the upper rim of the can portion. For example, garbage can 100
comprises lid 170,
32 which is pivotably coupled to can portion 110 and arranged to pivot onto
and off of ring 150,
33 when ring 150 is arranged on upper rim 116. Lid 170 includes a concave
bottom surface 171,
34 first and second apertures, 172a and 172b, respectively, and first and
second pivot pins, 173a
21859771.1 6
CA 02656449 2009-02-27
1 and 173b, respectively. First and second apertures, 172a and 172b, are
arranged to receive first
2 and second pivots pins, 122 and 124, therein, and when received therein, lid
170 is arranged to
3 pivot on first and second pivot pins, 122 and 124, i.e., lid 170 is
pivotably coupled to can portion
4 110.
[0028] As stated above, the present invention garbage can preferably includes
a hands-
6 free means for lifting the lid, such as a step mechanism, as such mechanisms
are both
7 convenient when a user's hands are full and hygienic in that a user need not
touch the lid. For
8 example, garbage can 100 comprises a step mechanism which includes step
pedal 190 and lift
9 arm 210. In order to unobtrusively connect step pedal 190 and lift arm 210
to can portion 110,
bottom wall 111 is arranged substantially horizontally and preferably includes
recessed
11 undersurface 11la, which is arranged to receive step pedal 190.
Additionally, back wall 115
12 preferably includes vertically arranged recessed outer surface 11 5a, which
is arranged to
13 slidingly receive lift arm 210. Moreover, front wall 113 includes recess
113a, which provides the
14 space above step pedal 190 necessary to apply a mechanical force downwardly
thereon.
[0029] Step pedal 190 includes pedal portion 191 and a U-shaped member
extending
16 therefrom. The U-shaped member includes left arm 192, right arm 194, and
cylindrical bar 196.
17 Left arm 192 includes left aperture 192a, and right arm 194 includes right
aperture 194a. In this
18 embodiment, bottom wall 111 includes left pivot pin 111c and right pivot
pin 111b. Left aperture
19 192a and right aperture 194a are arranged to receive left pivot pin 111c
and right pivot pin 111b,
respectively, therein, and when received therein, step pedal 190 is arranged
to pivot relative to
21 can portion 110, such that when pedal portion 191 is forced downwardly,
cylindrical bar 196 is
22 forced upwardly.
23 [0030] Lift arm 210 includes a bottom end comprising cylindrical recess 211
and top end
24 212 comprising left and right apertures, 212a and 212b, respectively.
Cylindrical recess 211 is
arranged to pivotably receive cylindrical bar 196 of step pedal 190 therein.
Left and right
26 apertures, 212a and 212b are arranged to pivotably receive first and second
pivot pins, 173a
27 and 173b, respectively, of lid 170.
28 [0031] As shown in Figures 13 and 14, when a force is applied downwardly to
pedal
29 portion 191, as illustrated with the arrow pointing thereto, cylindrical
bar 196 is forced upwardly,
which pushes lift arm 210 upwardly, as illustrated with the arrow adjacent to
lift arm 210. When
31 lift arm 210 is moves upwardly, it pushes lid 170, which simultaneously
pivots in left and right
32 apertures, 212a and 212b, and on first and second pivot pins, 122 and 124,
of bracket 120.
33 Thus, when step pedal 190 is pivotably coupled to can portion 110 and lift
arm 210, and lift arm
34 is pivotably coupled to lid 170, as described supra, lid 170 may be pivoted
off of ring 150 by
21859771.1 7
CA 02656449 2009-02-27
1 applying a downwardly directed force to pedal portion 191, for example,
stepping on pedal
2 portion 191. In other words, step pedal 190 is arranged to lever lift arm
210 upwardly when a
3 downwardly directed force is applied to pedal portion 191. Preferably,
mounting bracket 120
4 includes cross-bar 125 which is arranged to help guide lift arm 210 as it
raises and lowers within
recessed outer surface 115a.
6 [0032] Thus, it is seen that the objects of the present invention are
efficiently obtained,
7 although modifications and changes to the invention should be readily
apparent to those having
8 ordinary skill in the art, which modifications are intended to be within the
spirit and scope of the
9 invention as claimed. It also is understood that the foregoing description
is illustrative of the
present invention and should not be considered as limiting. Therefore, other
embodiments of the
11 present invention are possible without departing from the spirit and scope
of the present
12 invention.
21859771.1 8
