Abstract
An apparatus including a vessel open at the upper end to contain refuse or other material within an internal sack or bag type liner that the vessel holds open at the top. A lid that covers the opening to the vessel to conceal its contents with a lifting mechanism to open the lid in hands-free manner. A tab, flange, or other feature within the vessel to prevent the lining sack from coming into contact with and interfering with the function of the lid and its lifting mechanism.
Claims
1. An apparatus comprising: A vessel of metal, plastic, or other suitable material serving as a receptacle for containing refuse or other material; A covering lid on said vessel to conceal contents; An integral method for raising or opening the lid in a manner using any of the plurality of existing mechanisms known to those familiar with the art or potential future lifting mechanisms; An integrated internal retaining feature to hold an internal lining such that said lining does not interfere with lid lifting other functions of the vessel;
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
Legend of Parts
[0022] 1. Container (vessel) [0023] 2. Vertical lid-elevating shaft [0024] 3. Foot pedal mechanism [0025] 4. Lid [0026] 5. Protrusions from back central internal wall to retract lining bag downward [0027] 6. Lining sack (bag)
[0028] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a refuse container showing the food pedal in the front and the vertical shaft in the back in their normal (resting) positions.
[0029] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a container identical to that in FIG. 1 but with the foot pedal depressed and the vertical shaft raised as when raising a lid.
[0030] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the same vessel as FIG. 1 with a lid fitted on top.
[0031] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the same container with the lid in the raised position, the foot pedal depressed, and the vertical shaft elevated.
[0032] FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating the bottom and rear of the same container with the foot pedal mechanism under the container's bottom and the vertical shaft at the back.
[0033] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the same container identical to FIG. 4 with the addition of two horizontal protrusions inside the central back wall of the container.
[0034] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the same container demonstrated in FIG. 4 with a typical garbage bag/sack liner in place.
[0035] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the same container as FIG. 6 with a garbage sack in place and protrusions pulling the bag mouth downward.
[0036] FIGS. 9A-12C illustrate identical cut-away portions of the top central back wall inside the container.
[0037] FIG. 9A is a perspective view of this area incorporating a downward L-shaped flange.
[0038] FIG. 9B shows a cross section view of the L-shaped flange and container back wall.
[0039] FIG. 10A is a perspective view of the same area with downward angled protrusions from the back wall.
[0040] FIG. 10B is a cross section view of the downward angled protrusions and container back wall.
[0041] FIG. 11 A is a perspective view of the same area with a downward angled flange.
[0042] FIG. 11B is a cross section view of the downward angled flange and container back wall.
[0043] FIG. 12A is a perspective view of the same area with upwardly-opening clips to secure the mouth of a lining bag.
[0044] FIG. 12B is a cross section view of the container back wall and clip in closed position.
[0045] FIG. 12C is a cross section view of the container back wall and the clip in open position.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF FIRST EMBODIMENT
[0046] The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.
[0047] Broadly, embodiments of the present invention provide a system, a method, and apparatus for securing an internal lining sack inside a receptacle or vessel to contain refuse or other material in such a manner that the lining does not interfere with the function of its mechanical features (particularly a lid lifting mechanism). The present invention provides a simple and economic design that may be produced by existing manufacturing art already in practice for production of waste and other receptacles. Moreover, the receptacle may be produced with different shapes, dimensions, and modification of various components to accomplish the goal of positioning and holding the lining or bag. The external receptacle for trash or other material will be similar in shape and design to those commonly envisioned and produced in the past and present. It may be produced from a variety of materials.
[0048] FIG. 1 illustrates a commonly available receptacle for refuse or other items. It is comprised of a vessel (1) that is open at the top to received material being placed in it. Along the back is a vertical shaft (2) that provides upward lifting force to open a hinged lid (4). The shaft is in its down (resting) position. A foot pedal (3) is part of a lever mounted on the undersurface of the vessel such that when the pedal is pushed down, its hinged mechanism provides an upward force at the back of the vessel that elevates the vertical shaft. The foot pedal is in its up (resting) position.
[0049] FIG. 2 shows the container (1) with the posterior vertical shaft (2) in an elevated position and the foot pedal (3) depressed downward as they would be found when opening a receptacle lid.
[0050] FIG. 3 demonstrates the same receptacle (1) and foot pedal (3) as in FIGS. 1 and 2 with the addition of a typical lid on top (4). This lid is hinged at the back to allow it to open at the front to receive materials into the vessel.
[0051] FIG. 4 illustrates the same vessel (1) as in the above descriptions. Lid (4) is open and the vertical shaft (2) can be seen in the raised position to apply upward, raising force to the lid. The foot pedal (3) is in the downward position. A particular hinge mechanism for the lid is not specified as the exact hinging design is not germane to the purpose of this invention. Those familiar with the art will recognize that a multitude of hinges has been described and manufactured and may be used in receptacles of this nature.
[0052] FIG. 5 shows the rear and bottom of the vessel (1) with the foot pedal mechanism (3) and vertical shaft (2). The pedal mechanism is attached to the undersurface of the bottom of the vessel (1). The pedal and vertical shaft remain external to the vessel to protect them from the vessel contents in order to keep them clean. This external position also prevents the container contents from interfering with the motion and function of the vertical shaft and pedal/lever. A particular means of attaching the pedal mechanism has not been specified as many may be used and the specific choice is not germane to the functions and advantages of this current design.
[0053] FIG. 6 is a modification of and nearly identical to FIG. 4. It demonstrates the vessel (1), vertical shaft (2), foot pedal (3), and hinged lid (4). The foot pedal is in the down position and shaft in the elevated position. The vessel further includes two protrusions (5) from the internal back of the vessel. These are positioned beneath the site where the vertical shaft extends above the rear of the vessel. This particular design uses two short, horizontal tubular protrusions or protuberances to pull the internal sack lining (to be discussed subsequently) down and away from the lifting shaft and the shaft's articulation with the hinged lid. As discussed below, a multitude of shapes and designs of the protrusions may be substituted with equally effective downward retraction of the bag liner.
[0054] FIG. 7 shows the receptacle (1), foot pedal (3), and hinged lid (4) as discussed in a number of the above figures. A bag/sack liner (6) has been placed into the vessel as would normally be done for collection of refuse and other material. The mouth or opening of the sack is stretched or placed around the top opening of the vessel to keep the sack from falling inward and downward which could result in spillage of contents and contamination of the receptacle. The mouth of the bag covers the vertical shaft and is stretched between the shaft and lid where these structures contact each other in this illustration. This very often results in interference with the lid lifting mechanism, the hinge mechanism, and with secure attachment of the lid onto the vessel. This is a potential or actual problem in many previous and current designs. It is a commonly experienced with many of the plethora of commercially available receptacles of this nature. Some resulting problems include the lid failing to seat and fall off. Lid elevation can be impaired. The interference of the sack may increase resistance to the lifting mechanism such that when opening is accomplished, it requires enough foot pedal force that the lid opens rapidly and with enough excess force to cause it to fall off of the receptacle.
[0055] FIG. 8 is a modification of FIG. 7 by incorporating the bag-retracting protrusions (5). This illustrates the vessel (1), vertical shaft (2), foot pedal (3), hinged lid (4), protuberances (5), and bag liner (6). It can be seen that these protrusions pull the mouth of the liner downward and clear of the vertical shaft. This prevents the liner's interference with the elevating function of the shaft, the interface between the shaft and the lid (4), and also the hinge mechanism.
[0056] FIG. 9A-12C demonstrate perspective views of the same cut-away section of the internal, central rear wall of the container with some examples of the many alternative protrusions that could be used to retract the bag liner (6). Those skilled in the art will recognize that many different retracting hooks or other protrusions could be equally substituted with equally effective function.
[0057] FIG. 9A illustrates a downward-pointing L-shaped flange.
[0058] FIG. 9B shows a cross-sectional view of the flange and container back wall depicted in FIG. 9A
[0059] FIG. 10A demonstrates the perspective view with downwardly angled cylindrical protrusions
[0060] FIG. 10B is a cross sectional illustration of the vessel back wall and downwardly angled protrusions.
[0061] FIG. 11A illustrates a perspective view of the vessel back wall and a downwardly-angled tab or flange.
[0062] FIG. 11B is a cross sectional view of the downwardly angled flange and vessel back wall.
[0063] FIG. 12A shows the same perspective view of the container central back wall but incorporates upwardly shaped clips or clamps. In this example, these are similar to a commonly available clothes pin that has a hinge and spring mechanism.
[0064] FIG. 12B illustrates the cross sectional view of the vessel back and the clip in the closed position.
[0065] FIG. 12C is differs from FIG. 12B only in that the clip is in the open position, ready to receive the mouth of the bag.
OPERATION OF THIS INVENTION
[0066] Use of this current design is very similar to use of currently available trash cans. The lid is either opened or removed. A lining sack is placed into the vessel with its open mouth extending above and wrapped around the top opening of the container. The mouth of the sack is pulled beneath the protrusions to retract it downward and clear of the lid lifting mechanism. The lid is then either replaced and/or lowered into its resting position for subsequent use.
Additional and Alternative Embodiments
[0067] The described design can be applied to a variety of vessels of any shape. Although the above drawings and description incorporate the commonly available central rear lifting shaft, the means to prevent interference with a lifting mechanism could be positioned anywhere as necessitated by a particular placement of the lifting mechanism.
ADVANTAGES
[0068] 1. Improved convenience and use of receptacles for trash and other materials. [0069] 2. Inexpensive means to improve previous and current receptacles. [0070] 3. Absence of moving parts or more complicated features that would increase complexity of manufacture and be more susceptible to breakage.
CONCLUSIONS, RAMIFICATIONS, AND SCOPE
[0071] The above particular descriptions provide sample embodiment example though should not be considered limiting the scope of the invention. The refuse container could exist in a multitude of shapes such as round, ovoid, or other cross sectional designs. The described retaining feature could be used with any number of lid-activating mechanisms. The scope should be determined by the appended claims and not the specifics of the above embodiments.
