Abstract:
A trash can assembly has a shell and a lid fitted over the top end of the shell, with the lid having a bracket secured to the bottom of the lid. A slot provided adjacent the top of the shell, with the bracket moving through the slot as the lid is opened and closed. A movable lock member provided at the top of the shell, the lock member movable from an extended position where the lock member covers a portion of the slot, to a retracted position where the lock member is clear of the slot.

Description:
RELATED CASES  
       [0001]     This is a continuation-in-part of co-pending Ser. No. 11/007,100 filed Dec. 7, 2004, which is in turn a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 10/828,067, filed Apr. 19, 2004, whose disclosures are incorporated by this reference as though fully set forth herein. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The present invention relates to household items, and in particular, to a trash can assembly that allows for convenient use.  
         [0004]     2. Description of the Prior Art  
         [0005]     A major concern for both the home and the workplace is containing and holding wastes, refuse, and trash until permanent disposal. Trash cans act as containers for holding trash and other wastes that are produced in any typical home or office. Trash and garbage cans often employ lids and covers to contain the trash and its associated odor, to hide the trash from view, and to prevent the trash from contaminating areas beyond the lid.  
         [0006]     Conventional trash cans have been improved over the years to make them more user-friendly, sanitary, and hygienic. For example, many trash cans are now provided with a foot pedal positioned adjacent the base of the trash can so that a user can step on the foot pedal to open the lid of the trash can, thereby freeing up the user&#39;s hands to toss trash, or to change the plastic liner or bag that is used to line the trash can.  
         [0007]     Unfortunately, to keep the lid open, the user must keep his or her foot on the pedal. If the user needs to move away from the trash can to get additional trash, or to get a new liner, the lid will slam shut. In addition, if the user is attempting to sort the contents inside the trash can, or searching for something that may have been inadvertently tossed into the trash can, it can be uncomfortable and inconvenient for the user to keep his or her feet on the pedal while maneuvering the hands inside the trash can.  
         [0008]     Thus, there remains a need for a trash can that allows for convenient use thereof.  
       SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE  
       [0009]     It is an object of the present invention to provide a trash can assembly that allows the user to use the trash can more conveniently.  
         [0010]     It is another object of the present invention to provide a trash can assembly where the lid can be temporarily locked in an opened position.  
         [0011]     In order to accomplish the objects of the present invention, there is provided a trash can assembly that has a shell, a lid fitted over the top end of the shell, with the lid having a bracket secured to the bottom of the lid. A slot provided adjacent the top of the shell, with the bracket moving through the slot as the lid is opened and closed. A movable lock member provided at the top of the shell, the lock member movable from an extended position where the lock member covers a portion of the slot, to a retracted position where the lock member is clear of the slot. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a trash can assembly according to one embodiment of the present invention shown with the lid opened.  
         [0013]      FIGS. 2A-2E  are perspective views illustrating the operation of the locking mechanism of the lid for the trash can assembly of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0014]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a trash can assembly according to another embodiment of the present invention shown with the lid opened.  
         [0015]      FIGS. 4A-4B  are enlarged sectional views of the section  4  in  FIG. 3  illustrating the operation of the locking mechanism of the lid for the trash can assembly of  FIG. 3 .  
         [0016]      FIGS. 5A-5B  are cross-sectional views of the locking mechanism of the lid for the trash can assembly of  FIG. 3 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0017]     The following detailed description is of the best presently contemplated modes of carrying out the invention. This description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating general principles of embodiments of the invention. The scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims. In certain instances, detailed descriptions of well-known devices and mechanisms are omitted so as to not obscure the description of the present invention with unnecessary detail.  
         [0018]      FIGS. 1-2E  illustrate one embodiment of a trash can assembly  20  according to the present invention. The assembly  20  has a shell  22  and an internal liner (not shown) that is adapted to be retained inside the shell  22 . The shell  22  can be made from either plastic or metal. The liner is essentially a container, and can also be made from either plastic or metal. The shell  22  is an enclosing wall which can have any desired shape, including oval, triangular, rectangular, square or circular (among others). The liner can have the same shape as the shell  22 . An upper support frame  28  can be secured to the opened top of the shell  22 , and can be provided in a separate material (e.g., plastic if the shell  22  is metal) from the shell  22 .  
         [0019]     A pair of lids  32  is hingedly connected to the upper support frame  28  using hinged connections that are well-known in the art, and will not be described in greater detail herein. As one non-limiting example, each lid  32  can be hingedly connected to the shell  22  in the manner that is described in U.S. Publication No. US-2004-0004080-A1, published on Jan. 8, 2004 and entitled “Trash Can Assembly”, whose entire disclosure is incorporated by this reference as though set forth fully herein. The shell  22  and its lids  32  can be made of a solid and stable material, such as a metal. The shell  22  has a base  34 , and a foot pedal  36  is pivotably secured to the base  34 .  
         [0020]     A link assembly extends from the foot pedal  36  along the base  34  and then upwardly along the rear of the shell  22  to the upper support frame  28  and each lid  32 . The link assembly operates to translate an up-down pivot motion of the pedal  36  to a corresponding up-down pivot motion for each lid  32 . The construction and operation of link assemblies are well-known in the art, and will not be described in greater detail herein. As one non-limiting example, the link assembly, foot pedal  36  and the lids  32  can be constructed in accordance with that which is described in U.S. Publication No. US-2004-0004080-A1, published on Jan. 8, 2004 and entitled “Trash Can Assembly”.  
         [0021]     The link assembly includes a pair of link rods  40 , with each rod  40  extending from the base  34  upwardly along one edge of the rear of the shell  22  to the upper support frame  28  so that each rod  40  is aligned with a rear corner of the lid  32  (see  FIG. 1 ). Only one link rod  40  and its accompanying hinge components are shown in  FIGS. 1-2E , but both pairs of link rods  40  and their accompanying hinge components are the same. Referring to  FIGS. 2A-2D , each link rod  40  has a hooked end  42  that is adapted to be inserted through a hole  50  in an L-shaped bracket  52  that is fixedly secured (e.g., by screws) to the underside of each lid  32  at a corner of the lid  32 . The hooked end  42  has a length that allows it to experience back and forth sliding motion within the hole  50  in the bracket  52 . However, an enlarged stop member  44  is provided at the end of the hooked end  42  to prevent the hooked end  42  from being disengaged from the hole  50 , and for the user to push against. Thus, pressing and releasing the pedal  36  will cause the upper hooked end  42  of each link rod  40  to move up and down, respectively, thereby opening and closing (via the force of gravity) the lid  32 , which is well-known in the art.  
         [0022]     The support frame  28  has an L-shaped slot  56  provided at each rear corner of the shell  22 . Each slot  56  is sized and configured to allow the bracket  52  to extend therethrough and into the interior of the shell  22 . In particular, each slot  56  has a leg section  58  that has a width which is slightly greater than the length of the hooked end  42 . Each slot  56  also has an elongate section  60  extending from the leg section  58 , with a generally semi-circular lock section  62  extending to a side of the elongate section  60  that is opposite to the side to which the leg section  58  extends.  
         [0023]     The upper support frame  28  has an annular recessed wall  46 . One or more cut-outs or grooves  48  are spaced-apart about the wall  46 . The grooves  48  allow the user to insert his or her fingers through the grooves  48  under the upper lip of the internal liner to lift the internal liner from the interior of the shell  22  when the lids  32  are opened. This provides a convenient way for the user to remove the internal liner from the shell  22 , without requiring the user to place his or her hands inside the internal liner to grip the internal liner.  
         [0024]      FIGS. 2A-2E  illustrate how each lid  32  can be locked in an open position.  FIG. 2A  illustrates the lid  32  locked in the open position. This locked open position is obtained by the user stepping on the foot pedal  36 , which causes the hooked end  42  to push the bracket  52  and the lid  32  upwardly. The user then pushes the stop member  44  inwardly in the direction of the arrow X 1  to secure the rod  40  into the lock section  62  of the slot  56 . Thus, the lock section  62  functions as a locking member that secures the rod  40  in a raised position to lock the lid  32  in an opened position.  
         [0025]     When the user wishes to close the lid  32 , the user disengages the rod  40  from the lock section  62 . This can be accomplished by pulling the stop member  44 , or pushing the top of the rod  40 , outwardly in the direction of the arrow X 2 , as shown in  FIG. 2B . The rod  40  will become disengaged from the lock section  62  and will enter the elongate section  60  of the slot  56 . At this time, the weight of the lid  32  (coupled with the force of gravity) will push the rod  40  and hooked end  42  downwardly as the lid  32  pivots downwardly, causing the rod  40  and hooked end  42  to move in the elongate section  60  towards the leg section  58  in the direction of the arrow X 3 , as shown in  FIG. 2C . The weight of the lid  32  (coupled with the force of gravity) will eventually push the rod  40  and hooked end  42  downwardly into the leg section  58 , where the hooked end  42  will begin a downward motion into the interior of the shell  22  in the direction of the arrow X 4 , as shown in  FIG. 2D . Then, as shown in  FIG. 2E , the lid  32  will eventually pivot downwardly until it completely covers the top of the shell  22  in a closed position. In this closed position, the rod  40 , the hooked end  42  and the bracket  52  are all retained in the interior of the shell  22 .  
         [0026]     To open the lid  32  again, the user merely steps on the foot pedal  36 , which causes the hooked end  42  to push the bracket  52  and the lid  32  upwardly. The rod  40 , the hooked end  42 , the bracket  52  and the lid  32  will experience the same motion, in reverse manner, as described above in connection with  FIGS. 2D, 2C  and  2 B. When the rod  40  and the lid  32  reach the position shown in  FIG. 2A , the user then pushes the stop member  44  inwardly in the direction of the arrow X 1  to secure the rod  40  into the lock section  62  of the slot  56 .  
         [0027]      FIGS. 3-5B  illustrate another embodiment of a trash can assembly  120  according to the present invention. The assembly  120  has a shell  122  and an internal liner (not shown) that is adapted to be retained inside the shell  122 . The shell  122  and the liner can be the same as the shell  22  and the liner described above in connection with the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-2E . An upper support frame  128  can be secured to the opened top of the shell  122 , and can be the same as the support frame  28 .  
         [0028]     A lid  132  is hingedly connected to the upper support frame  128  using hinged connections that are well-known in the art, and will not be described in greater detail herein. The shell  122  and its lid  132  can be made of a solid and stable material, such as a metal. The shell  122  also has a foot pedal (not shown, but can be the same as  36  above) that is pivotably secured to a base (not shown, but can be the same as  34  above). A link assembly extends from the foot pedal along the base and then upwardly along the rear of the shell  122  to the upper support frame  128  and the lid  132 , and can be the same as the link assembly in  FIGS. 1-2E . The link assembly includes a pair of link rods  140 , with each rod  140  extending from the base upwardly along one edge of the rear of the shell  122  to the upper support frame  128  so that each rod  140  is aligned with a rear corner of the lid  132  (see  FIG. 3 ). Only one link rod  140  and its accompanying hinge components are shown in  FIGS. 4A-5B , but both pairs of link rods  140  and their accompanying hinge components are the same.  
         [0029]     Referring to  FIGS. 4A-4B , each link rod  140  has a hooked end  142  that is adapted to be inserted through a hole  150  in an L-shaped bracket  152  that is fixedly secured (e.g., by screws) to the underside of the lid  132  at a corner of the lid  132 . Thus, pressing and releasing the pedal will cause the upper hooked end  142  of each link rod  140  to move up and down, respectively, thereby opening and closing (via the force of gravity) the lid  132 , which is well-known in the art.  
         [0030]     The support frame  128  has an L-shaped slot  156  provided at each rear corner of the shell  122 . Each slot  156  is sized and configured to allow the bracket  152  to extend therethrough and into the interior of the shell  122 . In particular, each slot  156  has a leg section  158  that has a width which is slightly greater than the length of the hooked end  142  to allow the hooked end  142  to pass therethrough as the lid  132  is raised and lowered. Each slot  156  also has an elongate section  160  extending from the leg section  158 .  
         [0031]     The upper support frame  128  also has an annular recessed wall  146 , with one or more cut-outs or grooves  148  spaced-apart about the wall  146 . The grooves  148  can be the same as the grooves  48  described above. A sliding lock member  170  is provided on the support frame  128 . Referring also to  FIGS. 5A-5B , the support frame  128  has an elongated recess  172  on its top surface, and an opening  174  extending through the support frame  128  not far from the location of the slot  156 . The bottom surface of the support frame  128  has two concave recesses  176 ,  178  provided on either side of the opening  174 .  
         [0032]     The lock member  170  includes a sliding piece  180  and a bottom piece  182 . The sliding piece  180  has a central portion  184  that extends through a part of the opening  174 , where it is secured to the bottom piece  182  by a threaded bolt  186  which extends through an opening in the bottom piece  182  and a threaded bore in the central portion  184 . The width of the opening  174  defines the extent of possible movement by the central portion  184  and its lock member  170 . Two convex bumps  188  and  190  are provided on the top surface of the bottom piece  182  at opposite ends thereof, extending towards the support frame  128 . In use, the user can slide the sliding member  180  back and forth inside the recess  172  between a retracted position (see  FIGS. 4A and 5A ) and an extended position (see  FIGS. 4B and 5B ). When the sliding member  180  is in the retracted position, the bump  190  is seated inside the recess  178 , and the bump  188  is positioned in a recessed region  192  at the bottom of the support frame  128 . When the sliding member  180  is in the extended position, the bump  188  is seated inside the recess  176 , and the bump  190  is positioned in the slot  156 . The retention of a bump  188  or  190  inside a recess  176  or  178  functions to secure the sliding piece  180  in either the extended or the retracted position.  
         [0033]      FIGS. 4A-5B  illustrate how the lid  132  can be retained in an open position. During normal use of the trash can assembly  120 , the sliding member  180  is in the retracted position shown in  FIGS. 4A and 5A . With the lock member  170  and its sliding member  180  retracted, the bracket  152  can be pivoted uninterrupted through the slot  156  during the opening and closing motions of the lid  132 . When a user desires to retain the lid  132  in a raised position, the user raises the lid  132  (e.g., by stepping on the pedal) and while keeping the lid  132  raised, and pushes the sliding member  180  from the retracted position to the extended position ( FIGS. 4B and 5B ) so that a portion of the sliding member  180  protrudes into the slot  156 . The user then releases the lid  132 , at which time the force of gravity will cause the lid  132  to lower itself until the bottom end  198  of the bracket  152  is seated on top of the extended portion of the sliding member  180 . Since the extended portion of the sliding member  180  interferes with the travel path of the bracket  152 , it functions to hold the bracket  152  (and the lid  132 ) in a raised position.  
         [0034]     When the user desires to lower the lid  132 , the user merely pushes the sliding member  180  from the extended position to the retracted position, clearing the space in the slot  156  for the bracket  152  to fall through, thereby lowering the lid  132 .  
         [0035]     Alternatively, the trash can assembly  120  can be provided without link rods  140 , and without any step pedal. The principles of the embodiment of  FIGS. 3-5B  can be carried out by using merely the bracket  152  and the lock member  170 .  
         [0036]     The above detailed description is for the best presently contemplated modes of carrying out the invention. This description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating general principles of embodiments of the invention. The scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims. In certain instances, detailed descriptions of well-known devices, components, mechanisms and methods are omitted so as to not obscure the description of the present invention with unnecessary detail.