Trash Receptacle Attachment

Abstract

A trash receptacle attachment for helping to collect debris. The trash receptacle attachment includes a housing having an inlet portion, an outlet portion, and a hollow interior volume. The outlet portion is configured to be received within a trash receptacle, wherein mounting brackets attached to the exterior of the housing and are configured to removably mount to an opening of the trash receptacle to support the outlet portion within the trash receptacle. The inlet portion extends above the opening of the trash receptacle when the outlet portion is supported within the trash receptacle, wherein the inlet portion includes a funnel-like shape and is widened relative to the outlet portion. Debris is inserted into the inlet portion and the debris passes through the housing and the outlet portion thereof, into the interior of the trash receptacle.

Claims

1) A trash receptacle attacher ent, comprising: a housing comprising an inlet portion, an outlet portion, and a hollow interior volume, wherein the inlet portion comprises an open upper end and the outlet portion comprises an open lower end; a first bracket extending along a first side of the housing and a second bracket extending along an opposing second side of the housing, wherein the first bracket and the second bracket are affixed to a central edge defined by the intersection of a lower end of the inlet portion and an upper end of the outlet portion; wherein the outlet portion is adapted to be inserted into the trash receptacle such that the inlet portion extends outward from the trash receptacle.

2) The trash receptacle attachment of claim 1, further comprising a first gap disposed on a third side of the housing, the first gap spanning a distance between the first bracket and the second bracket, wherein the distance is equal to a width of the outlet portion.

3) The trash receptacle attachment of claim 2, wherein the first and second bracket each comprise a horizontal member and a vertical member, the horizontal member affixed to the central edge.

4) The trash receptacle attachment of claim 1, wherein the inlet portion is widened relative to the outlet portion.

5) The trash receptacle attachment of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second brackets comprise an L-shape configuration.

6) The trash receptacle attachment of claim 1, wherein the outlet portion is substantially rectangular in configuration.

7) The trash receptacle attachment of claim 1, wherein the inlet portion comprising a funnel-shape.

8) A trash receptacle attachment, comprising: a housing comprising an inlet portion, an outlet portion, and a hollow interior volume, wherein the inlet portion comprises an open upper end and the outlet portion comprises an open lower end; a first bracket extending along a first side of the housing and a second bracket extending along an opposing second side of the housing; a first gap disposed on a third side of the housing, the first gap spanning a distance between the first bracket and the second bracket, wherein the distance is equal to a width of the outlet portion; wherein the outlet portion is adapted to be inserted into the trash receptacle such that the inlet portion extends outward from the trash receptacle.

9) The trash receptacle attachment of claim 8, wherein the first bracket and the second bracket are affixed to a central edge defined by the intersection of a lower end of the inlet portion and an upper end of the outlet portion.

10) The trash receptacle attachment of claim 9, wherein the first and second bracket each comprise a horizontal member and a vertical member, the horizontal member affixed to the central edge.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] Although the characteristic features of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims, the invention itself and manner in which it may be made and used may be better understood after a review of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like numeral annotations are provided throughout.

[0016] FIG. 1 shows a front perspective view of the trash receptacle attachments.

[0017] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the trash receptacle attachment as positioned for securement to a trashreceptacle.

[0018] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the trash receptacle attachment in use.

[0019] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the trash receptacle attachment in use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0020] Reference is made herein to the attached drawings. Like reference numerals are used throughout the drawings to depict like or similar elements of the trash receptacle attachment. For the purposes of presenting a brief and clear description of the present invention, the preferred embodiment will be discussed as used for facilitating the collection of leaves and other yard debris in a trash receptacle. The figures are intended for representative purposes only and should not be considered to be limiting in any respect.

[0021] Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown a front perspective view of the trash receptacle attachment and a perspective view of the trash receptacle attachment as positioned for securement to a trash receptacle, respectively. The trash receptacle attachment 20 is configured to be removably fastened to a trash receptacle, such as a trash can, to facilitate the collection of leaves and debris within the trash receptacle. The trash receptacle attachment 20 comprises a housing 23 having an inlet portion 22, an outlet portion 21, and a hollow interior volume. The housing 23 comprises a unitary body and can be composed of any of various durable materials, such as a metal or thermoset material, among others.

[0022] The inlet portion 22 comprises an upper end 24 and a lower end 25. The upper end 24 is open so as to allow debris to be inserted into the inlet portion 22. The inlet portion 22 further comprises a tapered configuration, wherein the inlet portion 22 tapers from the upper end 24 thereof towards the lower end 25. In this way, the upper end 24 of the inlet portion 22 is widened relative to the outlet portion 21. Preferably, the inlet portion 22 is in the shape of a rectangular funnel.

[0023] The inlet portion 22 is connected to the outlet portion 21 such that debris inserted into the inlet portion 22 passes through the outlet portion 21. The outlet portion 21 comprises an upper end 27 and a lower end 26 The upper end 27 is connected to the lower end 25 of the inlet portion 22 so as to form a continuous surface. The lover end 26 is open so that debris can flow therethrough and into a trash receptacle. Preferably, the outlet portion 21 is rectangular prism in shape, wherein the interior volume is uniform in shape. In this way, the interior volume of the inlet portion 22 is in communication with the interior volume of the outlet portion 21, whereby debris entering through the interior volume of the inlet portion 22 can pass through the outlet portion 21 and into the trash receptacle 50.

[0024] The upper end 25 of the lower portion further includes one or more brackets 30 configured to removably attach the attachment 20 to the upper end 51 of the trash receptacle 50. Preferably, each bracket 30 is L-shaped and configured to removably fasten around the opening of the trash receptacle 50, which allows the inlet portion 22 to be situated above the opening of the trash receptacle 50. Furthermore, the outlet portion 21 is configured to be received by a lawn debris bag or plastic bag, which can also be received and supported by the trash receptacle 50, thereby facilitating the collection of lawn debris within the lawn debris bag or plastic bag.

[0025] Referring now to FIG. 3, there is shown a perspective view of the trash receptacle attachment in use. In operation, the outlet portion is inserted into a trash bag or a trash receptacle 50. The housing of the trash receptacle attachment 20 is affixed to the open upper end of the trash receptacle 50 via the brackets 30 thereon. The brackets 30 are removably secured to the trash receptacle 50 and do not require additional fasteners. Once the brackets 30 are secured to the trash receptacle 50, the inlet portion 22 extends outward from the trash receptacle 50. The trash receptacle 50 is placed on its side so that the inlet portion 20 rests on the ground. The inlet portion 20 is preferably a rectangular funnel so that an edge of the rectangular funnel can rest substantially flush against the ground. in this way, the user can simply rake leaves into the inlet portion, wherein the debris will then pass through the housing and outlet portion thereof, into the trash receptacle. This eliminates the need for the user to hold open a garbage bag or pick up the leaves and debris by hand.

[0026] Referring now to FIG. 4, there is shown a perspective view of the trash receptacle attachment in use. Alternatively, the user can utilize the trash receptacle attachment 20 in an upright position on a trash receptacle 50. The user can secure the trash receptacle attachment 20 to the trash receptacle 50 using the brackets 30 thereon. The user can then deposit leaves and debris 42 into the inlet portion 22 of the trash receptacle attachment 20, wherein the trash receptacle attachment 20 funnels the debris into the trash receptacle 50. This allows the user to dump bags 41 of leaves and debris into the trash receptacle 50 without spilling the leaves and debris.

[0027] It is therefore submitted that the instant invention has been shown and described in what is considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art. With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustratedin the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

[0028] Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may he resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.