Vented trash receptacle

Abstract

A trash receptacle with foot pedal actuated vented shoes that eliminate the vacuum created from a full flexible trash liner. Closeable side vents are actuated mechanically and are connected via linkages to the foot pedal mounted near the bottom of the receptacle. The foot pedal which is located at the bottom of the container is used to open side vents when pressure is applied. The opening vents allow air to flow freely into the receptacle and close when not in use to prevent liquid and odors from escaping. The receptacle has a closed bottom and a open top. A removeable lid is provided to close the top. In addition, the manually actuated foot pedal serves to keep trash receptacle in place while trash liners are being inserted or removed. Various alternatives of the present waste receptacle are disclosed featuring different configurations of the shape of the receptacle and the connecting linkages.

Claims

1. A mechanically operated vented trash receptacle of sufficient size to accommodate the removal of a flexible garbage bag liner of varying sizes, comprising: (a) an essentially rigid container having four sidewalls and plurality of vents that can be operated mechanically through connecting linkages of equal length and (b) means for joining said linkages of equal length at right angles to a mechanically operated device such that said device can manipulate said vents.

2. A mechanically operated vented trash receptacle of sufficient size to accommodate the removal of a flexible garbage bag liner of varying sizes, comprising: (a) an essentially rigid container having four sidewalls and plurality of vents of equal size that can be operated mechanically through connecting linkages of equal length and (b) means for joining said linkages of equal length at right angles to a mechanically operated device such that said device can manipulate said vents.

3. The mechanically operated vented trash receptacle of claim 2 wherein said vents are connected to a plurality of horizontal and vertical linkages of equal lengths that are connected to a mechanically operated foot pedal wherein the said foot pedal, horizontal, and vertical linkages are connected by molded hinges and said linkages and said foot pedals are made of any durable material to with stand normal wear and tear.

4. The mechanically operated vented trash receptacle of claim 2 wherein a foot pedal is used to manipulate said linkages in such fashion as to mechanically open and closed said vents.

5. The mechanically operated vented trash receptacle of claim 2 wherein said vents can be made to slide open or open laterally.

6. The mechanically operated vented trash receptacle of claim 2 wherein said mechanically operated vented trash receptacle can be used in lawn and leaf applications or industrial applications.

Description

DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1A is perspective view of the first embodiment. It shows the right front portion of the trash receptacle with the vent shoes in the open position. The foot pedal is visible and also the right portion of the vent shoe and connecting linkage. A lid is also seen in the open position.

(2) FIG. 1B is perspective view of the first embodiment. It shows the right front portion of the trash receptacle with the vent shoes in the closed position.

(3) FIG. 1C is a bottom view of the front left portion of the trash receptacle. In this view the foot pedal which actuates the vents can be seen. The left side vent shoe can also be seen. Additionally, the entire linkage system can be viewed from this angle displaying the horizontal and vertical linkages. In this view the vent shoe is in the open position allowing air to flow into the vent opening.

(4) FIG. 1D is the same view as FIG. 1C except the vent shoe is in the closed position.

(5) FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of FIG. 1 having a full flexible trash liner being remove while the vents are open.

REFERENCES NUMERALS

(6) TABLE-US-00002 10 Trash Receptacle 12 Lid 14 Foot Pedal 16 Verical Arm Linkage 18 Vent Shoe 20 Guide Rail 22 Horizontal Arm linkage 24 Vent Opening 26 Pin 28 Hole 30 Foot Pedal Arm 32 Flexible liner

Detailed Description—FIGS. 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D and FIG. 2—First Embodiment

(7) One embodiment of the enclosure is illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B (right front view) and FIGS. 1C, and 1D (left front bottom view). FIG. 1 shows a vented trash can (10) with closeable vents shoes (18) on either side of the receptacle that move up and down and is held in place by guide rails (20) on either side. The vent shoe (18) is connected to a moveable vertical arm linkage (16) that moves vertically and has very little lateral movement. Vertical arm linkage (16) is connected to a horizontal arm linkage (22) which can be viewed in FIGS. 1C and 1D. Identical linkages of equal length are connected in the same fashion for both the left and the right side of the receptacle. Horizontal arm linkages (22) connects to the foot pedal arm (30) beneath the receptacle in the center of the trash receptacle. Each horizontal arm linkage (22) has a pin (26) on either side that extends outward perpendicular to the arm linkage. Each pin (26) is contiguous to the horizontal arm linkage (22). The pins (26) are located at a position approximately half the length of the horizontal arm linkage (22) and extend outward and perpendicular on each side. Foot pedal (14) is contiguous to the foot pedal arm (30). The foot pedal arm (30) has a pins (22) on either side that extends outward perpendicular to the foot pedal arm (30) at a location approximately half the length of the foot pedal arm (30). Each pin (26) fits into a pre-fabricated hole (28) at the very bottom of the trash receptacle. Each horizontal arm linkage (22) connects to the vertical arm linkage (16). The opposite end of the vertical arm linkage (16) is connected to the vent shoe (18). Each vent shoe (18) is slotted on either side so that they can move vertically along rails (20) located on either side of both shoes. The guide rails (20) are permanently molded to the trash receptacle (10). Trash receptacle (10), as shown in FIGS. 1-A through 1-D, and FIG. 2, are made of plastic material, however other conventional materials may be used to construct the trash receptacle. The size of the trash receptacle (10) may be varied to accommodate the use thereof in different applications, i.e. in residential and commercial applications.

(8) I currently contemplate the bottom of the embodiment be premolded to fit the foot pedal arm (30) and both horizontal arm linkages (22) with holes (28) also prefabricated in the manner shown but other ways of attachment are suitable. Additionally I also contemplate this embodiment to be rectangle in shape but find other shapes like oval to be acceptable.
Operation

(9) The manner of using the vented trash receptacle to remove trash bag liners without creating suction and to aid in holding the trash can in place while the refuse liner is being removed. Stepping on the foot pedal (14) creates a downward force at the point of impact and causes the foot pedal arm (30) to rotate around the perpendicular pins (26) which are slotted into each hole (28). The downward force creates an upward motion on the opposite end of the foot pedal arm (30). Both horizontal arm linkages (22) connect at the foot pedal arm (30) at the non foot pedal end and the preferred embodiment is connected via a hinge that can snap into place. Upward pressure from the foot pedal arm (30) causes the connecting horizontal arm linkages (22) to move up in unison and causes the opposite end to move down. The downward motion creates a downward force at the base of the vertical arm linkage (16). This downward motion causes the attached vent shoe (18) to move down exposing the vent. Air is then allowed to be sucked into the trash receptacle as the refuse liner (32) is being pulled out. The trash can is held firmly in place by the downward force on the foot pedal (14). The vent shoes (18) are guided to the open and closed position by guide rails (20).

Description and Operation of Alternative Embodiments

(10) The embodiment listed above is the preferred embodiment but should not be limited to household garbage cans. An alternative embodiment is used in the industrial arena and lawn and leaf collection. A large size version similar to a 55 gallon trash receptacle can be be made using the same idea. By venting a large size trash can in this manner will allow consumers to use industrial size trash liners without having concern for difficulty removing a fully loaded flexible liner due to a large vacuum that is created.

CONCLUSION RAMIFICATIONS AND SCOPE

(11) Although the description shown above is detailed with many specificities, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention but as merely providing illustrations of some of the presently preferred embodiments of this invention. For example the connecting linkage can be placed in a manner so as to allow the vent shoes (18) to slide up to the open position. The vent shoe (20) can be operating in such a manner as to allow the shoes to open outward. The trash receptacle (10) and any parts heretofore can be made of any durable material used to construct items of similar capacity. The trash receptacle can also me molded in any size or shape.