Refuse receptacle with stable removable lid and retainer

Abstract

A trash barrel receptacle includes a detached lid having a predetermined depth, which is held down with an elastic lid retainer. The garbage can and lids use no physical locks or canvas straps, but include the elastic lid retainer, which avoids the need for a pivotable handle located near the top of the garbage can, to lock the lid over the garbage can. The lid has a raised central rib with a concave groove or channel to retain the bungee cord within, to prevent the lid from sliding off laterally off of the refuse barrel. At the inside ends of the central rib are convex bosses molded to fit in grooves at the top of upper skirt of the refuse collection barrel. These bosses align the bungee cord with the retaining proximal and distal securement fasteners and put the cover lid in positional registration with the refuse collection barrel.

Claims

1. A removable retainer with a lid on a garbage can comprising, in combination: said garbage can having a top opening surrounded by a first skirt with a smooth curved surface adjacent an upper edge thereof; said lid comprising a cover portion having a downwardly extending second skirt with a smooth curved surface, descending from a peripheral edge thereof overlapping said first skirt when said lid is removably in place covering said top opening; said cover portion having a handle comprising a raised central rib extending in a direction from one side of said lid to an opposite side of said lid; and, said central rib having opposite handle tabs formed therein along at least a portion of the length of said central rib, in which a groove is formed on each of opposite sides of upper edges of said smooth surfaced garbage can skirt, and a boss is mounted inside of said garbage can lid on each of opposite sides thereof, said grooves each receiving one of said bosses when said smooth surfaced skirt of said lid is placed over the top opening of said garbage can for locking said lid to said garbage can, said combination further comprising a bungee cord extending between opposite sides of said garbage can over said lid nested in a concave groove extending axially lengthwise within said raised rib of said lid for securing said lid on said garbage can against intrusion by animals, while allowing a user to remove said lid for emptying said garbage can, without said lid being pivotably attached and avoiding the lid from striking the user as the user is lifting the garbage can and dumping the contents therefrom.

2. The combination of claim 1 in which said bungee cord has a securement member at each end thereof, and a barrel portion of said garbage can has a fastener mounted on opposite sides thereof for removable engagement with the securement member at each end of said bungee cord.

3. The combination of claim 2 in which said bosses are located under distal ends of said of said raised central rib for aligning said central rib and bungee cord with said fasteners at opposite sides of said garbage can, and said bosses having convex cross sections corresponding to, and provided integral to, mirror image concave cross sections of at least portions of said concave groove of said cover lid.

4. The combination of claim 1 in which said garbage can is circular in cross section.

5. The combination of claim 1 in which said garbage can is rectangular in cross section.

6. The combination of claim 1 in which said raised central rib handle further comprises a pair of centrally located outwardly extending cantilevered flanges, each cantilevered flange extending in an opposite direction therefrom to provide opposite gripping surfaces for manually handling said lid.

7. The combination of claim 6 in which each said cantilevered flange extends outwardly in an arcuate shape.

8. The combination of claim 1 wherein said downwardly extending second skirt of said lid has a depth of about 4 to 5 inches.

9. The combination of claim 1 wherein said concave channel groove of said raised central rib has a width of about one half to three quarters of an inch.

10. A method of securing a removable a lid on a garbage can comprising the steps of: providing said garbage can with a top opening surrounded by a first skirt with a smooth curved surface adjacent an upper edge thereof; providing lid with a cover portion having a downwardly extending second skirt with a smooth curved surface descending from a peripheral edge thereof overlapping said first skirt when said lid is removably in place covering said top opening; providing said cover portion with a handle comprising a raised central rib extending in a direction from one side of said lid to an opposite side of said lid; and, placing said lid over said top opening of said garbage can with said first skirt overlapping said second skirt; in which a groove is formed on each of opposite sides of upper edges of said smooth surfaced garbage can skirt, and a boss is mounted inside of said garbage can lid on each of opposite sides thereof, said grooves each receiving one of said bosses when said lid is placed over the top opening of said garbage can for locking said lid to said garbage can; further comprising the steps of: securing ends of a bungee cord to opposite sides of said garbage can; and, placing said bungee cord over said cover portion with said bungee cord deployed in a concave groove extending axially lengthwise within said raised central rib, for securing said lid on said garbage can against intrusion by animals, while allowing a user to remove said lid for emptying said garbage can, without said lid being pivotably attached and avoiding the lid from striking the user as the user is lifting the garbage can and dumping the contents therefrom.

11. The method of claim 10 in which said bungee cord has a securement member at each end thereof, and a barrel portion of said garbage can has a fastener mounted on opposite sides thereof for removable engagement with the securement member at each end of said bungee cord, the fasteners mounted on said garbage can being aligned with said central rib.

12. The method of claim 11 in which said grooves each receiving one of said bosses when said lid is placed over the top opening of said garbage can for aligning said raised central rib and bungee cord with said fasteners at opposite sides of said garbage can, said bosses are located under distal ends of said raised central rib, for aligning said central rib and bungee cord with said fasteners at opposite sides of said garbage can, and said bosses having convex cross sections corresponding to, and provided integral to, mirror image concave cross sections of at least portions of said concave groove of said cover lid.

13. The method of claim 10 in which said garbage can is circular in cross section.

14. The method of claim 10 in which said garbage can is rectangular in cross section.

15. The method of claim 10 further comprising the step of providing said raised central rib handle with a pair of centrally located outwardly extending cantilevered flanges, each cantilevered flange extending in an opposite direction from to provide opposite gripping surfaces for manually handling said lid.

16. The method of claim 15 in which each said cantilevered flange extends outwardly in an arcuate shape.

17. The method of claim 10 further comprising the step of providing said downwardly extending second skirt of said lid with a depth of about 4 to 5 inches.

18. The combination of claim 10 further comprising the step of providing said concave channel groove of said raised central rib with a width of about one half to three quarters of an inch.

19. A method of securing a removable a lid on a garbage can comprising the steps of: providing said garbage can with a top opening surrounded by a first skirt with a smooth curved surface adjacent an upper edge thereof; providing said lid with a cover portion having a downwardly extending second skirt with a smooth curved surface descending from a peripheral edge thereof overlapping said first skirt when said lid is removably in place covering said top opening; providing said cover portion with a handle comprising a raised central rib extending in a direction from one side of said lid to an opposite side of said lid, said central rib having a concave channel groove along a length of said central rib; securing ends of a bungee cord to opposite sides of said garbage can, in which said bungee cord has a securement member at each end thereof, and a barrel portion of said garbage can has a fastener mounted on opposite sides thereof for removable engagement with the securement member at each end of said bungee cord, the fasteners mounted on said garbage can being aligned with said central rib; placing said lid over said top opening of said garbage can with said first smooth surfaced skirt overlapping said second smooth surfaced skirt, in which a groove is formed on each of opposite sides of upper edges of said garbage can skirt, and a boss is mounted inside of said garbage can lid on each of opposite sides thereof, said grooves each receiving one of said bosses when said lid is placed over the top opening of said garbage can for aligning said raised central rib and bungee cord with said fasteners at opposite sides of said garbage can, and for locking said lid to said garbage can; wherein said bosses are located under distal ends of said raised central rib; further comprising the step of providing said raised central rib handle with a pair of centrally located outwardly extending cantilevered flanges, each cantilevered flange extending in a opposite direction from to provide opposite gripping surfaces for manually handling said lid, in which each said cantilevered flange extends outwardly in an arcuate shape; further comprising the step of providing said downwardly extending second skirt of said lid with a depth of about 4 to 5 inches, and providing said concave channel groove of said raised central rib with a width of about one half to three quarters of an inch; and, placing said bungee cord over said cover portion with said bungee cord deployed in said concave groove for securing said lid on said garbage can against intrusion by animals, while allowing a user to remove said lid for emptying said garbage can, without said lid being pivotably attached and avoiding the lid from striking the user as the user is lifting the garbage can and dumping the contents therefrom.

20. A removable retainer with a lid on a garbage can comprising, in combination: said garbage can having a top opening surrounded by a first skirt with a smooth curved surface adjacent an upper edge thereof; said lid comprising a cover portion having a downwardly extending second skirt with a smooth curved surface, descending from a peripheral edge thereof overlapping said first skirt when said lid is removably in place covering said top opening; said cover portion having a handle comprising a raised central rib extending in a direction from one side of said lid to an opposite side of said lid; and, said central rib having opposite handle tabs formed therein along at least a portion of the length of said central rib, and wherein the combination further comprises a bungee cord extending between opposite sides of said garbage can over said lid nested in a concave groove extending axially lengthwise within said raised rib of said lid for securing said lid on said garbage can against intrusion by animals, while allowing a user to remove said lid for emptying said garbage can, without said lid being pivotably attached and avoiding the lid from striking the user as the user is lifting the garbage can and dumping the contents therefrom.

21. The combination of claim 20 in which said garbage can is circular in cross section.

22. The combination of claim 20 in which said garbage can is rectangular in cross section.

23. The combination of claim 20 in which said raised central rib handle further comprises a pair of centrally located outwardly extending cantilevered flanges, each cantilevered flange extending in an opposite direction therefrom to provide opposite gripping surfaces for manually handling said lid.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The present invention can best be understood in connection with the accompanying drawings. It is noted that the invention is not limited to the precise embodiments shown in the following drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a prior art perspective view of a trash collector dumping a barrel receptacle into the hopper of a truck, risking injury to his head due to a potential rotation of the hinged lid.

(3) FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of the trash barrel receptacle of the present invention, shown in a sealed and secured position due to the connection of respective bosses extending down from the lid to respective cutout grooves in the top of the barrel receptacle, as well as from the bias of an optional bungee cord within an optional channel recess provided in a raised rib handle portion of the lid.

(4) FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the barrel receptacle, lid, and optional bungee cord of the present invention, the lid shown in partial cutaway to show the alignment of the boss and groove of one side.

(5) FIG. 4 is a local perspective view of a first optional bungee hook securement means, comprising a molded tab.

(6) FIG. 5 is a local perspective a second optional bungee hook securement means, comprising an eyelet.

(7) FIG. 6 is a local perspective view, taken at arrow 6 of FIG. 2, showing the optional eyelet of FIG. 5, with an optional bungee hook contained therein.

(8) FIG. 7 is a local perspective view, taken at arrow 7 of FIG. 3, showing the top portion of the lid with the groove and handle detail disposed thereon, including optional outwardly extending manual graspable handle tabs.

(9) FIG. 8 is sectional elevation taken at cutline 8-8 of FIG. 3, showing the groove, skirt and bosses molded integrally with the lid.

(10) FIG. 9 is a sectional elevation taken at cutline 9-9 of FIG. 7, showing the groove and upper handle tabs of the raised rib molded integrally with the lid.

(11) FIG. 10 is a side sectional elevation, taken at cutline 10-10 of FIG. 2, showing the lid attached to the barrel receptacle via a boss seated within a groove in the barrel receptacle; and showing an optional elastic cord attached to a securement fastener on the barrel receptacle.

(12) FIG. 11 is a perspective view of an alternate trash barrel receptacle, shown in a sealed and secured position due to the connection of respective bosses extending down from the lid to respective cutout grooves in the top of the barrel receptacle, as well as from the bias of an optional bungee cord within an optional channel recess provided in a raised rib handle portion of the lid, due to the bias of the optional bungee cord.

(13) FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective of the barrel receptacle, lid and optional bungee cord of the barrel receptacle of FIG. 11, shown in partial cutaway to show the alignment of the boss and groove of one side.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(14) The present invention has broad applications to many technical fields for a variety of articles. For illustrative purposes only, a preferred mode for carrying out the invention is described herein, wherein a trash barrel receptacle utilizes a cover lid, including a locking connection of respective bosses extending down from the lid to respective cutout grooves in the top of the barrel receptacle, as well as an optional elastic securement retainer for the cover lid.

(15) The outdoor trash barrel of this invention has a cover lid and cover lid retainer that is convenient for the homeowner as well as the trash collector. Injury exposure to sanitation workers engaged in manual dumping operations into trucks is minimized.

(16) FIG. 1 depicts a sanitation worker 5 manually dumping the contents of a trash barrel into the hopper of a truck 7 using a prior art trash barrel receptacle 1 with a pivoted cover lid 3. It is noted the potential for injury by the moving cover lid 3 potentially striking the sanitation worker 5 while the sanitation worker quickly lifts and inverts the barrel for dumping refuse therefrom into a bib collector of a sanitation truck.

(17) The first embodiment of the present invention shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 is for a trash barrel receptacle combination 10 with a barrel 12 that is essentially round in cross section while a second embodiment shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 illustrates an essentially rectangular cross section trash barrel receptacle combination 50 with comparable features, such as barrel 54 and cover lid 52.

(18) FIG. 2 shows a sealed round cross section trash barrel receptacle combination 10 of this invention with barrel 12, and removable cover lid 14, which is lockably connected to the top shirt of barrel 12 with protruding bosses 36 engageable with cutout grooves at the top of barrel 12, and which is further optionally held down with an expandable elastic securement element, such as an optional bungee cord 18, where the optional bungee cord 18 is secured in place within optional concave recess channel 34 extending axially lengthwise within a raised rib handle portion 20 of the barrel 12, where the concave recess channel 34 preferably has a narrow width of about one half to three quarters of an inch.

(19) FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the same trash barrel receptacle combination 10 showing the components more clearly. FIG. 3 shows the barrel 12 oriented and rotated 180 degrees than how barrel 12 is shown in FIG. 2. It is noted that cover lid 14 is show in FIG. 3 having a depth of about 4 to 5 inches in depth D, fitting loosely but smoothly via cover skirt 22 fitting over barrel skirt 24 at the top end of barrel 12. The depth D is several inches deeper than the conventional 2 inch depth of conventional garbage can lids. Barrel side handle 16 can be either molded in place, or it can be pivotable. An optional quick-disconnect/connect bungee cord securement fastener 28 is molded to one side of barrel 12 (as shown in the enlarged close-up detail view in FIG. 4). The optional molded securement fastener 28 extends outwardly from the outer surface of barrel 12. In order to hold the proximal end hook 18b of the optional bungee cord 18 in place, a slot extends preferably partially and slanted at a downward angle from the top of securement fastener 28, towards the outer surface of barrel 12. This type of structural configuration of the slot can mate with the bungee cord proximal fastener end 18b, to hold proximal end hook 18b in place indefinitely, or the proximal end hook 18b can be removed by the user each time used, if preferred by the user. It is further noted that use of the bungee cord 18 is optional, since the lid 14 can be lockable in place to the top of the barrel 12 by virtue of the engagement of the downwardly extending bosses 36 of the cover lid 14 with corresponding cutout grooves 26 at the top of the barrel 12.

(20) As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, a different optional securement fastener 30 is provided, for quick and convenient dislodging of distal end hook 18a of the optional bungee cord 18 by a sanitation worker, immediately before lifting the cover lid 14 off of the barrel 12. Securement fastener 30 is located on an opposite side of barrel 12, which is preferably an eyelet, wherein the eyelet is a safer option than a hook. The opposite distal fastener end 18b of optional bungee cord 18 is retained in annular eyelet 30, as shown in close-up detail views of FIGS. 3, 5 and 6 on the opposite side to securement fastener 28. Since bungee cord 18 is optionally used to deter animals' access to the contents of barrel 12 of barrel receptacle combination 10, the homeowner may wish to keep it attached to eyelet 30 even when not in use to prevent loss. In such cases, the distal end fastener open hook 18b shown in FIG. 6 can be easily replaced with a snap hook or other closed retainer.

(21) The remaining details are regarding the handling of the optional bungee cord 18 and the fit of the cover lid 14 and barrel 12 of the barrel receptacle combination 10. Cover lid 14 has a raised central rib handle 20 with a an optional concave groove or channel 34 to retain the optional bungee cord 18 within (if used), when it is in use to prevent cover lid 14 from sliding off laterally off of barrel 12 of barrel receptacle combination 10. While this feature can be seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, central enlarged view of FIG. 7 and sectional views of FIGS. 8 and 9 are more revealing. At the inside ends of central rib feature 20 are convex bosses 36, molded to fit in concave grooves 26 (see FIG. 3) at the top of smooth surfaced upper skirt 24 of barrel 12. Although they could be provided extending down from raised rib handle 20 without a concave groove or channel recess 34, these convex bosses 36 are preferably convex mirror images of the lower concave portions of the walls forming the concave recess channel 34 of the cover lid 14. These bosses 36 also align the optional bungee 10 and 18 with the retaining proximal and distal securement fasteners 18a and 18b and put the cover lid 14 in positional registration with the barrel 12 and lock the lid 14 to the barrel 12, of the barrel receptacle combination 10, with or without the optional elastic bungee cord 18 and optional channel 34 of raised rib handle portion 20.

(22) FIG. 8 also shows that cover lid 14, as is also shown in FIG. 3, as having the smooth surfaced skirt 22 with depth D of about 4 to 5 inches in depth, so that cover lid 14 with cover skirt 22 fits smoothly and firmly over barrel skirt 24 at the top end of barrel 12. FIGS. 7 and 9 are close-up detail views that show left and right cover handles 32 which are integrally molded with raised central rib 20, and which are preferably arcuate at their outer edges, to facilitate manual grasping by the user. As also shown in FIGS. 7 and 9, cover lid 52's raised central rib 20 also includes left and right cover handle tabs 32, which are preferably arcuate at their outer edges, to facilitate manual grasping by the user, which are integrally molded with raised central handle rib 20. Preferably cover handle tabs 32 comprise a pair of centrally located outwardly extending cantilevered flanges, each cantilevered flange extending in a opposite direction to provide opposite gripping surfaces for manually handling the lid 14.

(23) FIGS. 11 and 12 show a second embodiment of this invention using a trash barrel receptacle 50 with generally rectangular cross section. Cover lid 52 seals barrel receptacle 54 using optional bungee cord 18 and all of the hardware and techniques of the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-10. For example, cover lid 52 also has a descending, smooth surfaced skirt having a deeper depth D than conventional lids having depths of about 2 inches, which slides over a smooth surfaced upper skirt with a similar corresponding depth D at the top of barrel receptacle 54. Although cover lid 52 can be locked in place by virtue of bosses 36 of lid 52 engaging cutout recess grooves 26 on the top of barrel receptacle 52, cover lid 52 also has a raised central rib handle 20 with an optional concave groove or channel 34, to retain optional bungee cord 18 within, to further prevent cover lid 52 from sliding off laterally off of trash barrel 54 of barrel receptacle combination 50. The optional concave recess channel 34 also preferably has a narrow width of about one half to three quarters of an inch.

(24) As also shown in FIGS. 2, 3, 7, 8 and 9, the central rib 20 also has convex bosses 36 molded to fit in grooves 26 at the top of upper skirt 55 of rectangular shaped barrel 54, for aligning and locking lid 52 to barrel receptacle 54. These bosses 36 also align the optional bungee cord 18 with the optional retaining proximal and distal securement fasteners 18a and 18bs, and also put the cover lid 52 in positional registration with the rectangular barrel 54. As also shown in FIGS. 7 and 9, cover lid 52's raised central rib 20 also preferably includes left and right cover handle tabs 32, which are preferably arcuate at their outer edges, to facilitate manual grasping by the user, which are integrally molded with raised central rib 20. Preferably cover handle tabs 32 comprise a pair of centrally located outwardly extending cantilevered flanges, each cantilevered flange extending in a opposite direction to provide opposite gripping surfaces for manually handling the lid 52.

(25) Rectangular barrel 54 also includes a barrel side handle 16, which can be either molded in place or it can be pivotable. Similarly, an optional quick-disconnect/connect bungee cord securement fastener 28 is optionally molded to one side of barrel 54, such as shown in FIG. 4, which mates with the proximal fastener end 18a of optional bungee cord 18. Likewise, the opposite distal fastener end 18b of optional bungee cord 18 is retained in eyelet 30 shown in close-up detail views of FIGS. 5 and 6, on an opposite side (not shown) of barrel 54, on the opposite side to securement fastener 28.

(26) In the foregoing description, certain terms and visual depictions are used to illustrate the preferred embodiment. However, no unnecessary limitations are to be construed by the terms used or illustrations depicted, beyond what is shown in the prior art, since the terms and illustrations are exemplary only, and are not meant to limit the scope of the present invention.

(27) It is further known that other modifications may be made to the present invention, without departing the scope of the invention, as noted in the appended Claims.