Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 027 62 645 2011-12-21
CA Application
Agent's Ref: 68849/00113
STEP TRASH CAN
2
3 FIELD OF THE INVENTION
4 [0001] The present invention broadly pertains to trash
receptacles, particularly to
covered trash receptacles, and more particularly to trash can covers with
movable lids.
6
7 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
8 [0002] Trash cans are often required to be convenient,
decorative, and easy to clean as
9 well as to store trash. Trash cans would be more convenient if a user
were able to easily
deposit trash into a container. For open containers, depositing trash is
uncomplicated ¨ trash is
11 merely dropped into an open container. However, open trash containers
are usually unsightly
12 and often unsanitary. More desirable would be a trash can that included
a cover and still
13 enabled easy trash deposit.
14 [0003] Covered trash cans are generally more decorative than
open containers but are
not as convenient. If the cover has an opening, in order to preserve the
advantages of a cover,
16 the opening must be closed However, to open the closure to deposit
trash, it usually must be
17 touched, either by using a user's hand or a part of the trash being held
by the user. A typical
18 example is seen with hinged lids that cover the opening in the cover or
are directly attached to
19 the can itself. Pushing the hinged closure open involves touching a
surface that is usually dirty,
sticky with spilled liquids and trash and often unsanitary. Other types of
covers may include a
21 lid that can be opened without touching but must be pushed closed due to
failure of the closure
22 system or because friction from dirt or rusted components prevents the
lid from falling freely to a
23 closed position.
24 [0004] In addition, the components of mechanically operated
closures often become
fouled and dirty because they are positioned inside the trash can where they
are exposed to the
26 trash being deposited into the container. These components are difficult
to clean and, because
27 they are out of sight, they will often never be cleaned. This difficulty
is enhanced with parts that
28 are small and thus difficult to access for a thorough cleaning. If the
parts are made of metal,
29 they will likely rust again fouling the mechanism eventually making
automatic closure
problematic.
31 [0005] Thus, there is a need in the field for a covered trash
can with a closure
32 mechanism which a user does not have to touch with his hands and which
closes in a reliable
33 manner.
34
22185491.1 1
CA 02762645 2011-12-21
CA Application
Agent's Ref: 68849/00113
1 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
2 [0006] The present invention broadly comprises a trash can with
recessible lid
3 comprising an outer shell having a bottom surface; at least one outer
wall extending from the
4 bottom surface to at least one upper edge with opposing grooves formed in
the at least one
upper edge and a depression formed in the at least one wall. The trash can
also includes an
6 inner liner having a bottom surface and at least one liner wall extending
from the bottom surface
7 to at least one liner wall upper edge. There is a wall groove formed
extending from the bottom
8 surface of the inner liner to an upper edge of the at least one liner
wall, so that the wall groove is
9 opposite the depression. The inner liner is configured to nest within the
outer shell. A cover is
shaped to fit over the outer shell with an opening defined by the cover; a
recessible lid sized to
11 cover/close the opening, with the recessible lid rotatably attached to
an inner surface of the
12 cover. The cover includes an actuator rotatably attached to the
recessible lid and also rotatably
13 attached to the inner surface of the cover and a biasing spring
operatively attached to the
14 recessible lid. The trash can also includes a pedal assembly, the pedal
assembly including a
pedal lever operatively attached to the outer shell having a first end and a
second end, the first
16 end having a pedal and the second end functionally attached to a riser,
wherein the riser is
17 between the wall groove and the outer wall and movably attached to the
actuator.
18 [0007] One object of the invention is to provide a trash can that
reliably closes without
19 the cover being touched by the user by the user.
[0008] A second object of the invention is to supply a trash can that is
easily cleaned.
21 [0009] A third object of the invention is to present a novel trash
can with simple
22 mechanical parts.
23 [0010] A further object of the invention is to supply a trash can in
which the components
24 of the actuating mechanism are outside the trash storage area.
26 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
27 [0011] The nature and mode of the operation of the present invention
will now be more
28 fully described in the following detailed description of the invention
taken with the accompanying
29 drawing Figures, in which:
[0012] Figure 1 is a top perspective view of the trash can of the present
invention;
31 [0013] Figure 2 is an exploded top perspective view of the trash can
of the present
32 invention;
22185491.1 2
CA 02762645 2011-12-21
CA Application
Agent's Ref: 68849/00113
1 [0014] Figures 3-5 are exploded top perspective views depicting
the sequence in which
2 the components of the trash can are assembled to form the complete unit;
3 [0015] Figure 6 is a rear perspective view of the trash can
with the rear portion of the
4 outer wall partially cut away to show the operative relationship of the
riser with the receiver
portion of the actuator;
6 [0016] Figure 6A is an enlarged top view of circled area 6A in
Figure 6;
7 [0017] Figure 7 is a cross section of the trash can in the
closed position;
8 [0018] Figure 8 is a cross section of the trash can as it is
opened; and,
9 [0019] Figure 9 is a cross section view showing the lid opened
to its full extent.
11 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
12 [0020] At the outset, it should be appreciated that like
drawing numbers on different
13 drawing views identify identical structural elements of the invention.
It also should be
14 appreciated that figure proportions and angles are not always to scale
in order to clearly portray
the attributes of the present invention.
16 [0021] While the present invention is described with respect to
what is presently
17 considered to be the preferred embodiments, it is understood that the
invention is not limited to
18 the disclosed embodiments. The present invention is intended to cover
various modifications
19 and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the
appended claims.
[0022] Furthermore, it is understood that this invention is not limited to
the particular
21 methodology, materials and modifications described and as such may, of
course, vary. It is also
22 understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of
describing particular aspects
23 only, and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention,
which is limited only by the
24 appended claims.
[0023] Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used
herein have the
26 same meaning as commonly understood to one of ordinary skill in the art
to which this invention
27 belongs. It should be appreciated that the term "substantially" is
synonymous with terms such as
28 "nearly", "very nearly", "about", "approximately", "around", "bordering
on", "close to",
29 "essentially", "in the neighborhood of', "in the vicinity of', etc., and
such terms may be used
interchangeably as appearing in the specification and claims. Although any
methods, devices or
31 materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in
the practice or testing of
32 the invention, the preferred methods, devices, and materials are now
described. It should be
33 appreciated that the term "proximate" is synonymous with terms such as
"nearby", "close",
22185491.1 3
CA 02762645 2011-12-21
CA Application
Agent's Ref: 68849/00113
1 "adjacent", "neighboring", "immediate", "adjoining", etc., and such terms
may be used
2 interchangeably as appearing in the specification and claims.
3 [0024] Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific
terms used herein have the
4 same meaning as commonly understood to one of ordinary skill in the art
to which this invention
belongs. Although any methods, devices or materials similar or equivalent to
those described
6 herein can be used in the practice or testing of the invention, the
preferred methods, devices,
7 and materials are now described.
8 [0025] Adverting to the drawings, Figure 1 is a top perspective
view of trash can 10.
9 Outer shell 12 has at least one outer wall 14 which supports cover 20
which is releasably
attached using a friction fit as described below. It will be recognized by
persons having skill in
11 the art that other methods of releasable attachment may be used,
including but not limited to,
12 clamps, pins, nut and bolt assemblies, etc. A friction fit is a
preferred embodiment as it does not
13 require additional parts. Outer shell 12 may have many shapes having
more than one wall such
14 as squares, octagons, or other polygonal shapes. Preferably, pedal 42a
is positioned in wall
depression 16 ("depression 16") to allow it to remain close to outer shell 12
and still be easy to
16 access with the user's foot.
17 [0026] Cover 20 includes recessible lid 22. Lip 22a on closure
22 ensures the opening
18 21, not seen in Figure 1, is closed. By recessible is meant that lid 22
moves back underneath
19 cover 20 to reveal opening 21 which is defined by cover 20.
[0027] Figure 2 is an exploded top perspective view of trash can 10. Pedal
assembly 40
21 includes pedal lever 42 which has two ends. At one end is pedal 42a,
which in the embodiment
22 shown is integral with pedal lever 42. By integral is meant that the
component parts are formed
23 together as a single unit. Persons of skill in the art will recognize
that pedal 42a may be
24 attached to pedal lever 42 by screws, rivets, adhesives or other
suitable attachment means.
[0028] Riser 44 has an attachment end 46 which is movably attached to
second end
26 46a of pedal lever 42. By movably attached is meant that while riser 44
and pedal lever 42 are
27 fastened together, riser 44 and pedal lever 42 may independently rotate
around and/or slide
28 laterally at the connection point. One such movable connection may be a
hinged connection
29 with room for attachment end 46 to slide laterally on rod 47 of end 46a
with rod 47 longer than
the width of attachment end 46.
31 [0029] Figure 2 depicts upper edge 19 of outer shell 12 with
opposing grooves 19a. As
32 described below, grooves 19a receive ears 20a which are integral with
cover 20. Also seen is
33 channel 18 formed in the bottom surface of outer shell 12. In the
embodiment shown, when
34 trash can 10 is assembled, pedal assembly 40 fits into and is
operatively attached to the walls of
22185491.1 4
CA 027 62 645 2011-12-21
CA Application
Agent's Ref: 68849/00113
1 channel 18. By operatively attached is meant that a component or device
is connected either
2 directly or indirectly to a second component and causes one of those
components to function.
3 For example, as described above, pedal lever 42 is described as
operatively attached or
4 operationally attached to the walls of channel 18 meaning the attachment
is such as to allow
pedal lever 42 to operate to move riser up and down as described below.
6 [0030] Inner liner 30 includes a bottom surface and at least one
liner wall 32 and is
7 shaped to nest within outer shell 12. By nest is meant to fit compactly
together or within one
8 another. Therefore, liner depression 36 will nest against shell
depression 16. Wall groove 38
9 ("groove 38") is opposite liner depression 36 and is formed from liner
wall 32. When trash can
10 is assembled, riser 44 from pedal assembly will extend between the inner
surface of shell
11 wall 14 and groove 38.
12 [0031] Cover 20 defines opening 21 which is covered or closed by lid
22. Lid ears 22b
13 are attached to or integral with lid 22 and included pins 22c and holes
22d. Actuator 26 is
14 rotatably attached to the inside of cover 20 with pins 28 inserted into
receiving holes 24.
Receiver 29 is contacted on its bottom surface by the top of riser 44.
16 [0032] Lid 22 is rotatably attached to cover 20 with lid receiving
hole 22d receiving pin
17 25 attached to or integral with the inner surface of cover 20. Not shown
in Figure 2 is ear pin
18 22c inserted into hole 27 on actuator 26.
19 [0033] Figures 3-5 are top perspective views depicting the sequence
in which the
components of trash can 10 are assembled to form the complete unit. In Figure
3, liner 30 is
21 placed in a nesting manner within outer shell 12. Groove 19a is open to
receive ears 20a on
22 cover 20. Riser 44 is shown between groove 38 and outer shell wall 14.
Figure 4 shows
23 actuator 26 attached to the inside of cover 20 by inserting pins 28 into
receiving holes 24.
24 Figure 5 shows cover 20 releasably attached to outer shell 12 by the
friction fit of ears 20a into
grooves 19a.
26 [0034] Figure 6 is a rear perspective view of trash can 10 with the
rear portion of outer
27 wall 14 partially cut away to show the operative relationship of riser
44 with receiver 29 of
28 actuator 26. Also removed is the top of cover 20 exposing actuator 26
and lid 22 attached to
29 the bottom periphery of cover 20.
[0035] Figure 6A is an enlarged top view of circled area 6A in Figure 6.
Actuator 26 is
31 rotatably attached to cover 20 by pin 25 which extends through hole 22d
on ear 22b of lid 22.
32 Spring 50 is wrapped around pin 25. One end of spring 50 is anchored to
anchor 50a formed
33 from or attached to the inside surface of cover 20. The second end of
spring 50 is attached to
22185491.1 5
CA 027 62 645 2011-12-21
CA Application
Agent's Ref: 68849/00113
1 the lower portion of pin 22c which extends from lid ear 22b through hole
27 of actuator 26. This
2 assembly forms the rotatable attachment of lid 22 to both cover 20 and
actuator 26.
3 [0036] Figure 7 is a cross section of trash can 10 in the
closed position. Inner liner 30 is
4 supported by channel 18 formed from the bottom surface of outer shell 12.
Slot 18a is formed in
both walls of channel 18 and receives pegs 48 (not seen in Figure 7) that
extend from pedal
6 lever 42. In the closed position, pedal 42a is up and the opposing second
end 46a is down. For
7 this reason, riser 44 is also at the bottom of its travel path between
groove 38 and outer shell
8 wall 14. Actuator 26 is attached to both cover 20 by pin 28 and to lid 22
by pin 22c extending
9 through hole 27. Lid 22 is also attached to cover 20 by pin 25 inserted
through hole 22d.
[0037] Figure 8 is a cross section of trash can 10 as it is being opened.
Downward
11 pressure on pedal 42a lifts riser 44. Riser 44 contacts receiver 29
lifting receiver 29. Actuator
12 26 then pivots on pins 28 and 22c forcing the two ends of actuator 26
down. This downward
13 action on pin 22c forces lid 22 to rotate up exposing opening 21. Figure
9 is a cross section
14 view showing lid 22 opened to its full extent.
[0038] When pressure is released on pedal 42a, riser 44 falls relieving the
upward force
16 on receiver 29. At the same time, spring 50, which has been biased or
stretched, moves to its
17 resting position forcing pin 22c to rotate upward which acts to force
lid 22 to move down to the
18 closed position. The use of spring 50 to close lid 22 provides the
advantage a positive
19 mechanical force to help close lid 22 in addition to the effect of the
dropping of riser 44. This
helps to overcome any friction or other problems that would keep lid 22 open
even after riser 44
21 drops enabling lid 22 to close without help from the user.
22 [0039] Thus it is seen that the objects of the invention are
efficiently obtained, although
23 changes and modifications to the invention should be readily apparent to
those having ordinary
24 skill in the art, which changes would not depart from the spirit and
scope of the invention as
claimed.
26
22185491.1 6
