TRASH CAN WITH PICKUP INDICATOR

Abstract

A trash can with an indicating means for visually showing that the trash can has been emptied or collected. The indicating means for trash pickup provides visual indication from remote distances that a trash can has been emptied. It is intended to eliminate trips to the trash can location to only find out that the trash has not been emptied yet. The indicating means is intended for use on a trash can with an attached lid that is permanently connected via a hinge. The trash can may include other accessories such as wheels, handles, and the like. The indicating means may be utilized on trash cans of varying sizes from small to large. As such, the use of any specific size of trash can or use of accessories is not intended to be a limiting factor of the present invention.

Claims

1. A trash can for visually indicating whether trash in the trash can has been collected, the trash can consisting of: a trash can; an attached lid, the attached lid being coupled to the trash can by a hinge; one or more wheels, each of the wheels being coupled to the trash can; a handle, the hand being coupled to the trash can; and an indicating means for trash pickup, the indicating means for trash pickup being attached to the lid.

2. The trash can according to claim 1, wherein the attached lid opens and closes along a lid travel path.

3. The trash can according to claim 1, wherein the indicating means comprises a flag, the flag being mounted upon a first shaft.

4. The trash can according to claim 3, wherein the flag has a width of four (4) inches.

5. The trash can according to claim 3, wherein the flag has a length of four (4) inches.

6. The trash can according to claim 3, wherein the first shaft has a length of eighteen (18) inches.

7. The trash can according to claim 3, wherein the flag is a red.

8. The trash can according to claim 3, wherein the flag is green.

9. The trash can according to claim 3, wherein the flag is orange.

10. The trash can according to claim 3, wherein the flag is a fluorescent color.

11. The trash can according to claim 3, wherein the flag is visible for at least five-hundred (500) feet.

12. The trash can according to claim 3, wherein the shaft has a lower end, the lower end of the shaft terminates at a first post.

13. The trash can according to claim 12, wherein the shaft has a connecting shaft, the connection shaft having a mechanical connection to a second shaft.

14. The trash can according to claim 13, wherein the first shaft and the second shaft are coupled to a an upper rim of the trash can.

15. The trash can according to claim 13, wherein when the trash can is full, the flag and first shaft are configured in an upright position, the first shaft being secured under a clip.

16. The trash can according to claim 15, wherein the clip is permanently connected to the attached lid.

17. The trash can according to claim 16, wherein when the trash can has been emptied, shaft and the flag are disengaged from the clip when the attached lid opens via the hinge.

18. The trash can according to claim 17, wherein the flag has been returned to an upright position.

19. The trash can according to claim 1, wherein the flag is visible to indicate the emptying of the trash can.

20. The trash can according to claim 3, wherein the shaft is a spring.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which:

[0011] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the indicating means for trash pickup 10, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0012] FIG. 2 is a side view of the indicating means for trash pickup 10 on a trash can 15 in a stored or retracted state, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0013] FIG. 3 is a side view of the indicating means for trash pickup 10 on a trash can 15 in an active or deployed state, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention; and,

[0014] FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the indicating means for trash pickup 10, as seen along a line II-II, as shown in FIG. 3, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTIVE KEY

[0015] 10 indicating means for trash pickup [0016] 15 trash can [0017] 20 attached lid [0018] 25 hinge [0019] 30 wheel [0020] 35 handle [0021] 40 lid travel path l [0022] 45 flag [0023] 50 shaft [0024] 55 first post [0025] 60 connecting shaft [0026] 65 second shaft [0027] 70 upper rim [0028] 75 flag securing travel path f [0029] 80 clip [0030] 85 flag deployment travel path a [0031] 90 spring [0032] 95 rod [0033] 100 retaining flange [0034] 105 inner retainer [0035] 110 outer retainer [0036] 115 repelling force r

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0037] The best mode for carrying out the invention is presented in terms of its preferred embodiment, herein depicted within FIGS. 1 through 4. However, the invention is not limited to the described embodiment, and a person skilled in the art will appreciate that many other embodiments of the invention are possible without deviating from the basic concept of the invention and that any such work around will also fall under scope of this invention. It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention, and only one (1) particular configuration shall be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. All of the implementations described below are exemplary implementations provided to enable persons skilled in the art to make or use the embodiments of the disclosure and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure, which is defined by the claims.

[0038] The terms a and an herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one (1) of the referenced items.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0039] Referring now to FIG. 1, a perspective view of the indicating means for trash pickup 10, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention is disclosed. The indicating means for trash pickup (herein also described as the indicating means) 10, provides visual indication from remote distances that a trash can has been emptied. It is intended to eliminate trips to the trash can location to only find out that the trash has not been emptied yet. The indicating means 10 is intended for use on a trash can 15 with an attached lid 20 that is permanently connected via a hinge 25. The trash can 15 may include other accessories such as wheels 30, handles 35, and the like. The indicating means 10 may be utilized on trash cans 15 of varying sizes from small to large. As such, the use of any specific size of trash can 15 or use of accessories is not intended to be a limiting factor of the present invention.

[0040] The trash can 15 would preferably be emptied by a municipal trash service using an automated lifting and emptying arm. The attached lid 20 is intended to open and close along a lid travel path l 40 as expected. The indicating means 10 provides for a flag 45 mounted atop a shaft 50. It is envisioned that flag 45 would be provided in a high contrast color such as yellow, red, orange, fluorescent colors, and the like such that it is visible for distances of five hundred feet (500 ft.) or more. The size of the flag 45 is envisioned to be approximately four square inches (4 in..sup.2) while the length of the shaft 50 is envisioned to be approximately eighteen (18 in.), for purposes of illustration. However, the specific size of the flag 45 and the shaft 50 is not intended to be a limiting factor of the present invention.

[0041] Referring next to FIG. 2, a side view of the indicating means 10 on a trash can 15 in a stored or retracted state, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention is depicted. The attached lid 20 is closed upon the trash can 15 as is found in a normal state. The shaft 50 terminates at its lower end at a first post 55. A connecting shaft 60 then provides a mechanical connection to a second shaft 65. Both the first post 55 and the second shaft 65 are connected to an upper rim 70 of the trash can 15. Further detail on the first post 55, the connecting shaft 60 and the second shaft 65 will be provided herein below.

[0042] When the trash can 15 is full and is placed at a curbside location for pickup, the user will move the flag 45 and shaft 50 from an upright position (as shown in FIG. 1), along a flag securing travel path f 75 and secure the shaft 50 under a clip 80. The clip 80 is permanently connected to the attached lid 20. The configuration as shown in FIG. 2 is that what would be experienced while the trash can 15 is waiting to be emptied by a municipal refuse truck.

[0043] Referring now to FIG. 3, a side view of the indicating means 10 on a trash can 15 in an active or deployed state, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown. The attached lid 20 is closed upon the trash can 15 as is found in a normal state, such as after the trash can 15 has been emptied by a municipal refuse truck. The shaft 50, as well as the flag 45, is disengaged from the clip 80, as the attached lid 20 opens via the hinge 25, along the lid travel path l 40 (as shown in FIG. 1), during the municipal refuse truck dumping cycle. The shaft 50 remains terminates at its lower end at the first post 55, with the connecting shaft 60 providing a mechanical connection to a second shaft 65. When the trash can 15 has been emptied and returned to its curbside location, the user (home resident) will be able to visually discern the flag 45 in its upright and deployed position as shown in FIG. 3, signaling that a trip to the curbside location to retrieve the trash can 15 is now warranted. The flag 45 and shaft 50 may remain in the upright and deployed position (as shown in FIG. 3) until the next refuse pickup cycle, where once again the first post 55 is secured under the clip 80 once at the curbside location (as shown in FIG. 3).

[0044] Referring finally to FIG. 4, a sectional view of the indicating means 10, as seen along a line II-II, as shown in FIG. 3, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention is disclosed. The shaft 50 transitions to a spring 90, either as an integral part of the shaft 50, or as a separate component. Likewise, the connecting shaft 60 may be an integral part of the spring 90 or be provided as a separate component. The first post 55 consists of a rod 95, provided with a retaining flange 100 at its outer end. The spring 90 is wound about the rod 95 as shown. The inner end of the rod 95 is mechanically coupled to the upper rim 70, via use of an inner retainer 105 and an outer retainer 110. The rod 95 and the retaining flange 100 may be interpreted as a bolt, while the inner retainer 105 and the outer retainer 110 may be a nut. The specific configuration of the first post 55 is not intended to be a limiting factor of the present invention. It is noted that the configuration of the second shaft 65 (as shown in FIG. 2) is similar in nature to that of the first post 55 as shown. The configuration of the spring 90 produces a repelling force r 115 between shaft 50 and the connecting shaft 60 resulting in the flag 45 remaining in an upright position (as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3) when not restrained by the clip 80 (as shown in FIG. 2).

Operation of the Preferred Embodiment

[0045] The preferred embodiment of the present invention can be utilized by the common user in a simple and effortless manner with little or no training. It is envisioned that the indicating means 10 would be constructed in general accordance with FIG. 1 through FIG. 4. The user would procure the indicating means 10 from conventional procurement channels such as hardware stores, home improvement stores, discount stores, mechanical supply houses, mail order and internet supply houses and the like. It is envisioned that the teachings of the indicating means 10 can be provided as an integral component of a new trash can 15 or provided as an aftermarket add-on device for installation on an existing trash can 15.

[0046] In the case of aftermarket installation, the user would drill necessary holes in the upper rim 70 for the first post 55 and the second shaft 65; the spring 90, along with the attached shaft 50 and second shaft 65 would be positioned upon the first post 55 and secured in place with the inner retainer 105 and the outer retainer 110; the second shaft 65 would be installed in a similar manner; the connecting shaft 60 is then secured to the second shaft 65; and the clip 80 is secured to the attached lid 20. At this point in time, the indicating means 10 is ready for use.

[0047] During utilization of the indicating means 10, the following procedure would be initiated: according to the refuse pickup schedule, the trash can 15 is placed at a curbside location for pickup, the user (home resident) will move the flag 45 and shaft 50 from an upright position (as shown in FIG. 1), along the flag securing travel path f 75, and secure the shaft 50 under a clip 80; the flag 45 remains under the clip 80 until the trash can 15 is emptied, preferably by an automated arm on a municipal refuse trash vehicle, whereupon the attached lid 20, traveling along the lid travel path l 40, releases the shaft 50 and the flag 45.

[0048] When the trash can 15 has been emptied and returned to its curbside location, the user will be able to visually discern the flag 45 in its upright and deployed position, signaling that a trip to the curbside location to retrieve the trash can 15 is now warranted; the flag 45 and shaft 50 may remain in the upright and deployed position until the next refuse pickup cycle, where once again the first post 55 is secured under the clip 80 once at the curbside location in a repeating and cyclical cycle.

[0049] The features of the indicating means 10 provide the following benefits: providing an inexpensive purchase either as a component of a new trash can 15 or as an add-on kit for an existing trash can 15; long life, quality components, allows for visual verification that refuse pickup has occurred, elimination of unnecessary trips to the curbside location, and retrieval of the trash can 15 as soon as possible after pickup to prevent loss of the trash can 15 due to wind and weather conditions.

[0050] The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.