Patent ID: 11884400
Assignee: B/E AEROSPACE, INC.
Field: Environmental technology (Chemistry)
Classification: CPC B | IPC B

Claim 0:
1. A system for controlling a lid of a trash receptacle for use in an aircraft lavatory, the system comprising:
a housing defining a volume for the trash receptacle, the housing defining an access opening to the trash receptacle through which trash can be inserted;
the lid pivotably coupled to the housing adjacent the access opening to the trash receptacle, wherein the lid is configured to be pivotable between at least an open position and a closed position relative to the access opening;
an actuator coupled to the lid;
a controller electrically coupled to the actuator, wherein the controller is configured to command the actuator to perform at least one of an opening actuation to pivot the lid to the open position and a closing actuation to pivot the lid to the closed position;
a proximity sensor coupled to the lid and electrically coupled to the controller, wherein the proximity sensor is configured to detect whether an object is proximate the lid, and the controller is configured to have a predetermined delay period such that the controller is configured to command the actuator to maintain the lid in the open position for a period of time after the object is removed from being proximate the lid; and
a lavatory occupancy sensor electrically coupled to the controller, wherein the controller is configured to command the actuator to maintain the lid in the closed position in response to the lavatory occupancy sensor reporting vacancy of the aircraft lavatory.