Abstract
The invention is a trash compacting device with a handle configured horizontally, so a person can grip the handle with the palm of their hand facing downward to maximize compression force and minimize slippage. The frame supports one or more smite plate receivers that may extends horizontally from the frame to increase the distance between center regions of two smite plates. Each smite plate receiver may extends downward at different heights to ensure that bulky trash, such as boxes, does not impede the downward movement of every smite plates. The frame may houses a telescoping tube to ensure ergonomic operations when a garbage can is less than full. Smite plates of different shapes and sizes may be attached to the smite plate receiver to further ensure more uniform compaction of trash. Smite plates and handle grips are pivotally attached to allow for portable transport and compact storage.
Claims
1. A trash compacting device comprising: a. a handle configured horizontally; b. one or more handgrips attached to an outer side wall of the handle; c. a Y-shaped frame extended from the handle, wherein the Y-shaped frame comprises spaced apart bottom ends; d. a plurality of smite plate receivers, each of the smite plate receivers is attached to the respective bottom end of the Y-shaped frame; e. a plurality of smite plates for compacting trash; and f. locking mechanisms to fasten the smite plate receivers to the smite plates.
2. The trash compacting device of claim 1, in which said handle has fillet or chamfered edges.
3. The trash compacting device of claim 1, in which said handle is triangular, rectangular, trapezoidal, circular, or arch shaped.
4. The trash compacting device of claim 1, in which said handle is made of material to minimize grip slippage, wherein the material is rubber, polymeric, plastic, polycarbonate, ceramic, wood, metal, or combination thereof.
5. The trash compacting device of claim 1, in which said handle is covered by rubber.
6. The trash compacting device of claim 1, in which said handle has depressions, grooves, or scores to minimize grip slippage.
7. The trash compacting device of claim 1, in which said frame contains one or more extrude cuts.
8. The trash compacting device of claim 1, in which said one or more handgrips are pivotally attached to the handle, movable between a horizontal configuration and a vertical configuration, whereby said one or more handgrips may be concealed within one or more slots on one or more sidewalls of the frame.
9. The trash compacting device of claim 1, in which said smite plate receiver extends horizontally from the frame to increase the distance between center regions of said smite plates.
10. The trash compacting device of claim 1, in which said smite plate receiver extend downward from the frame to increase the trash compacting device's overall height.
11. The trash compacting device of claim 1, in which said smite plate receiver extend downward at different heights to allow for uniform compaction of trash.
12. The trash compacting device of claim 1, in which said smite plate is pivotally attached or hinged to the smite plate receiver with the ability to move from 0 to 180 degrees with said locking mechanism to fasten the smite plate at different angles during compacting operations or storage.
13. The trash compacting device of claim 1, in which said smite plates with different shape configurations are attached to the locking mechanisms.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a trash compacting device with a ergonomic handle, round frame, and two smite plate receivers, and a circular smite plates fastened to each receiver.
(2) FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a trash compacting device with a horizontal handle, rectangular frame, a smite plate receiver positioned under the frame, and a triangular smite plate with a gusset to reinforce the joint.
(3) FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a trash compacting device with a horizontal handle, rectangular frame, two smite plate receivers, and two foot-like smite plates.
(4) FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a trash compacting device with a horizontal handle, rectangular frame, two smite plate receiver, and two square shaped smite plates with rib support.
(5) FIG. 5a is a perspective view of a trash compacting device with a horizontal handle, elongated telescoping tube, a smite plate receiver with interchangeable smite plate locking mechanism, and a square smite plate. FIG. 5b is a perspective view of the trash compacting device in FIG. 5a with the telescoping tube in a retracted configuration.
(6) FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a trash compacting device with a ergonomic handle, extrude cuts in the frame, and two smite plate receivers.
(7) FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 are perspective views of a trash compacting device in FIG. 6 with extrude cuts of different shapes, number, and configurations in the frame of the trash compacting device.
(8) FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a trash compacting device with a horizontal handle, rectangular frame, and two smite plate receivers.
(9) FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a trash compacting device with a horizontal handle, rectangular frame, and two elongated smite plate receivers.
(10) FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a trash compacting device in FIG. 10 with rounded over or fillet edges throughout the trash compacting device.
(11) FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a trash compacting device with a trapezoidal shaped handle.
(12) FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a trash compacting device with an oval handle, square extrude cut through the frame, and two elongated smite plate receivers that increase the height of the invention.
(13) FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a trash compacting device with a narrow handle, rectangular frame, and two elongated smite plate receivers.
(14) FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a trash compacting device with a wide handle, wide frame, five rectangular shaped extrude cuts, and two smite plate receivers.
(15) FIG. 16 and FIG. 17 is a perspective view of a smite plate receiver, demonstrating the use of a bolt or wing nut, respectively, to secure interchangeably attached smite plates.
(16) FIG. 18 is a perspective view of a smite plate receiver with dados to join a smite plate. FIG. 18 demonstrates the smite plate in an unattached configuration.
(17) FIG. 19 demonstrates the smite plate in an attached configuration.
(18) FIGS. 20 to 26 are perspective views of a variety of smite plates.
(19) FIG. 27 is a perspective view of a trash compacting device with pivotally attached handgrips and smite plates in a horizontal configuration.
(20) FIG. 28 is a perspective view of a trash compacting device in FIG. 27 with the handgrips and smite plates moved to vertical configuration.
(21) FIG. 29 is a perspective view of the handle of a garbage can that is aligned with the handle of the trash compacting device.
(22) FIG. 30 is a perspective view of a trash compacting device hanging on the garbage can handle as a convenient storage location for the trash compacting device.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
(23) In FIGS. 1 to 10, a rectangular shaped handle 10 orientated horizontally to allow a person to grip the handle 10 with the palm of a hand facing downward. This allows the palm of a hand to assert a downward compacting force on trash, maximizing trash compression force and minimizing grip slippage during the trash compacting process.
(24) In FIG. 11, the handle 10 has a rounded over or fillet 90 edge to provide a smooth griping surface. A chamfered edge is an alternative means to reduce the edge angle. In FIG. 12, the handle 10 is trapezoidal to accommodate a user with thicker or larger hands. FIG. 13 describes an arched shaped handle 10. In this embodiment, the handle 10 has sufficient length to allow two hands to grip the handle 10 comfortably. FIG. 14 describes a handle 10 that is triangular with the internal angles rounded over or fillet 90. FIG. 15 describes a handle 10 with a wide horizontal gripping surface with the bottom corners rounded over or fillet 90.
(25) In FIGS. 27 to 30, the handle 10 contains two handgrips 11 allowing for two-handed operation of the trash compacting device. In another embodiment the handgrips 11 folds downward 14 to a vertical configuration, so the handgrips 11 are partially concealed within a slot on sidewalls of the frame 20, enabling the invention to be more portable or compact when transported or stored.
(26) Referring to FIG. 1 for a description of a frame 20 with arced edges that connect a handle 10 to a smite plate receiver 30. In FIG. 2, the frame 20 is rectangular with a gusset 60 for reinforcement of the joint between the frame 20 and the smite plate 40. FIGS. 1, 3, 4, 6 to 15 demonstrate a Y-shaped 21 frame 20, serving to extend the distance between the centers 41 of two smite plates 40.
(27) In FIG. 5a and FIG. 5b, the frame 20 contains a housing 80 for a telescoping tube 81, extendable upon the actuation of a release button 82. FIG. 5a demonstrates a telescoping tube 81 in an extended configuration, while FIG. 5b demonstrates a telescoping tube 81 in a retracted configuration. The bottom end of the telescoping tube 81 contains a locking mechanism 50 allowing a smite plate 40 to fasten or connect to the telescoping tube 81.
(28) In FIG. 6, the frame 20 contains extrude cuts 70: three rectangular cuts orientated vertically, one trapezoidal, one semi-circular. In FIG. 7, the frame 20 contains two rectangular extrude cuts 70 orientated horizontally. In FIG. 8, the frame 20 contains V-shaped extrude cut 70. In FIG. 13, the frame 20 contains a square shaped extrude cut 70. In FIG. 15, the frame 20 contains five equidistance trapezoidal extrude cuts 70 of varying length to create six rails 71 and two stiles 72 as the frame 20. The number and shape of the extrude cuts 70 are exemplary to demonstrate several configurations where framing material may be eliminated to save production cost while retain structural integrity.
(29) Referring to FIG. 1 for an embodiment with two smite plate receivers 30 connected to a frame 20 of a trash compacting device. In FIG. 2, a single smite plate receiver 30 is connect to the frame 20. In the preferred embodiments, 1 to 10 smite plate receivers 30 were attached to the frame 20. Consequently, one or more smite plates 40 may be attached to the trash compacting device to create uniform compacting pressure on the top surface of the trash. Having more than one smite plate receiver 30 allows the attachment of different types of smite plates 40 to a single trash compacting device. Consequently, this allows the trash compacting device to better conform to the shape of the inner wall of a garbage can 100 or topology of the top surface of the garbage, creating uniform compacting pressure throughout garbage in the garbage can 100.
(30) In FIGS. 1, 4, 6 to 9, the smite plate receiver 30 extends horizontally from a frame 20 to increase the distance between center 41 regions of two smite plates 40. FIG. 2 demonstrates a smite plate receivers 30 that does not extend from the frame 20, but rather affixed directly to the bottom of the frame 20. Optionally, a gusset 60 may be added to reinforce the smite plate joint.
(31) In FIG. 3 and FIGS. 10 to 15, the smite plate receivers 30 extend downward from the frame 20 to increase the overall height of the trash compacting device. In a preferred embodiment, the smite plate receiver 30 extend downward at different heights to allow for uniform compaction of trash. When a bulky object, e.g., a box impedes the downward movement of one smite plate receiver 30, the taller smite plate receiver 30 that is not impeded by the bulky object can reach the adjacent garbage, ensuring uniform compacting pressure of garbage.
(32) In FIG. 16, a semi-transparent view of a smite plate receiver 30 demonstrates a bolt 51 aligned with a hole 53 on a smite plate receiver 30 and a nut 55 affixed to a smite plate 40. A bolt 51 is one of many means to fasten the smite plate receiver 30 to the smite plate 40. FIG. 17 demonstrates the use of a wing nut 52 that may thread onto a rod 54 affixed to a smite plate 40 to fasten the smite plate receiver 30 to the smite plate 40. In FIG. 18, the smite plate receiver 30 has dados 55 for the smite plate grooves 56 to slide and fasten with the smite plate receiver 30. FIG. 19 demonstrates the general appearance of a smite plate 40 with grooves 56 corresponding to the dados 55 on the smite plate receiver 30, when it is fastened or attached to a smite plate receiver 30. Other locking mechanisms 50 known in the art are suitable to join the smite plate 40 to the body of the invention. These include the use of a dowel, pin, clamp, clip, screw, bolt, rivet, fastener, clasp, hook, latch, link, lock and key, adhesive, nail, or weld.
(33) In FIGS. 27 to 30, a smite plate 40 is locked to a smite plate receiver 30 with a locking mechanism 50 such as a hinge 57, which allow the smite plate 40 to move from a horizontal configuration 110 to a vertical configuration 120. In FIGS. 28 to 30 the smite plate 40 is in a vertical configuration 120 to reduce the depth of the trash compacting device, making it more portable and compact for storage. In one embodiment, the hinge allows the smite plate 40 to move from 0 to 180 degrees. Locking mechanisms 50 allows the smite plate 40 to be secured or fixed at different angles during compacting operations and storage. Locking mechanisms 50 known in the art include but not limited to the following: dowel, pin, clamp, clip, screw, bolt, rivet, fastener, clasp, hook, latches, link, lock and key, adhesive, nail, and weld.
(34) Additional examples of smite plates 40 are provided in FIGS. 20 to 26. In FIG. 20, a smite plate 40 is octagon 42 shaped with eight ribs. In another embodiment, spars were added to the smite plate 40. In FIG. 21, the smite plate 40 is X-shaped 43. In FIG. 22, the smite plate 40 is shaped like a hand 44. FIGS. 23 to 26 exemplify other geometric shapes, such as oval 45, circle 46, triangle 47, rectangle 48 used in the smite plate 40 design. Smite plate 40 shapes that conform to the shape of the garbage ensure the content in the garbage can 100 does not splash and remain within the garbage can 100 during the compaction process.
(35) In FIG. 28, a trash compacting device has two handgrips 11 in a downward configuration 14 and two smite plates 40 in a vertical configuration 120. In FIG. 29, a trash compacting device handle 10 is aligned with a garbage can handle 101. In FIG. 30, a compacting device is hanging on the garbage can handle 101 for convenient storage and access.
(36) The trash compacting device is made of lightweight material. The material may contain polymeric, ceramic, plastic, polycarbonate, metal, wood, or combination thereof. In one embodiment, the device is made of plastic such as PVC and ABS. In another preferred embodiment, the device is made of wood.
(37) The handle 10 is made of a variety of material that enables a user to hold the invention with minimal grip slippage. The material may contain polymeric, ceramic, plastic, polycarbonate, metals, wood, or combination thereof. In a preferred embodiment, the handle 10 is made of wood. In another embodiment, the handle 10 is made of plastic covered by a rubber grip. In another preferred embodiment, depressions, grooves, or scores were added to the gripping surface of a handle 10 to minimize grip slippage.
(38) It is understood that the preceding descriptions is given merely by way of illustration and various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.
