Receptacle with can counter

A receptacle that counts empty beverage cans for recycling frames an opening of a waste receptacle such as a trash can or recycling bin. The apparatus includes an actuation arm located inside the opening. The arm is pressed to the side whenever a can is inserted into the waste receptacle. The arm is connected to a mechanical counter located on an outside of a lid. After each can is added, the counter increments by one (1) to indicate the number of beverage cans inside of the container. The counter can be reset when the container is emptied or the bag changed.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present invention was first described in U. S. Patent Provisional No. 61/592,882 filed on Jan. 31, 2012 the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention to a lid for a waste container having a counting device thereon, where the counting device is configured to incrementally tally an item deposited in the waste container when contacted.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

With society's increasing awareness of the world's dwindling supply of natural resources and overflowing landfills, many communities are providing and even mandating recycling services to its residents. The benefits of these efforts have already begun to be seen and will continue to be realized in the future. However, as with most beneficial programs, these efforts are accompanied by some burdens. Perhaps the biggest burden is “special requirements” that accompany the collection of recycled materials. This may include presorting by the consumer, the use of special bags and/or containers, or the like.

One (1) additional requirement, for the collection of used beverage cans, is that they are packaged in bags with a certain quantity, especially for monetary rebates. Thus the user is typically forced to wait until more than enough cans are collected, and then recount the correct amount into a separate bag or container. This not only takes time and increases fuss, but also forces the consumer to wait longer than necessary to collect any recycling credit. Can and bottle counter apparatuses do exist but none are conducive for personal use in one's home, or, if they are, they are not configured to be retro-fitted onto any standard trash or recycling receptacle.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,472,819 shows a can differentiator and counter reverse-vending machine. This machine is placed inside local convenience and food stores for consumers to bring empty cans to and deposit into the machine. The machine determines the type of metal of each can, counts the number of cans deposited, and tenders payment to the depositor.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,545,062 shows an empty can counter and limiter device that is placed on top of a standard refuse receptacle by taking the place of the lid of the receptacle. Such a device can only be employed on receptacles with openings that match the size of the device because the device serves as the lid. The counting mechanism comprises of a photosensor and electrical circuit interface.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,603,791 shows a specially designed container and refuse bag that works in concert to collect and count bottles and cans to be recycled.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,090,031 shows a can counting machine that is to be employed by recycling and processing scrap yards to receive large quantities of various metal cans.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,224,131 shows a counting apparatus that is formed into a lid and placed upon bins to count the number of items deposited into the bin. Such a device can only be employed on receptacles with openings that match the size of the device because the device serves as the lid.

The present invention affords a user the ability to retro-fit the device to virtually any container having a lid. The patents cited are counting apparatuses for cans and other objects, and are designed for practically similar functions; however, none of the cited patents allows a user to retro-fit the device on virtually any container. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,545,062 and 5,224,131 are devices that also serve as a lid so these can only be employed on similar sized containers. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,603,791 and 5,090,031 are specially designed containers and machines that do not exhibit any retro-fitting capabilities.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a counter device that tallies the number of empty cans, or other similar objects, deposited into a receptacle, which can be employed with most standard trash and recycling receptacles. The device is designed to be placed on top and fitted onto a lid of a standard trash or recycling bin. The user cuts a hole in the lid and fits the device on top, aligning a receiving aperture of the device with the opening created by the cut. The device comprises of an external collar forming a frame, a pivoting activation arm located inside an opening of the frame, a counting apparatus, and a fastener mechanism.

The frame further comprises a housing fabricated from material exhibiting suitable properties of rigidity and durability, and is configured to form enveloping walls extending downward to define a hollow interior channel with a receiving aperture granting access to the interior channel. A user deposits an object through the receiving aperture, and, as it falls, it leads into the interior channel, then into a cavity portion of the trash or recycling receptacle.

The housing is equipped with fasteners to fasten it to a lid portion of a trash or recycling receptacle. The pivot actuation arm is located at an inner surface of the enveloping wall portion. The pivot actuation arm is connected, via an indexing shaft to the counting apparatus, which is located at an exterior side wall of the housing.

The counting apparatus is preferably a digital mechanical counter with a reset feature. As an object is deposited through the receiving aperture, the pivoting actuation arm moves in response to the object, which activates the counting apparatus and begins a tally in increments of one (1) due to a ratchet mechanism interfaced with the engagement tine of the indexing shaft. A beneficial feature is for the counter apparatus to be provided with a counter reset to zero-out the counter tally.

A user first obtained a receptacle bin equipped with an accompanying lid, such as any standard trash or recycling bins found in local stores. A hole is cut in the lid that is substantially the size of the receiving aperture of the device. The device is positioned over the lid opening such that the channel and bottom opening are aligned with the lid opening. The device is then attached by a plurality mechanical fasteners. By resetting the counting device to a zero (0) count, the device is ready for use. Each time an object is inserted into a top opening of the receptacle, the pivoting actuation arm is activated thereby causing the arm to rotate the indexing shaft and advance the count by one (1) unit. The device is used over the course of days or weeks until the desired number is registered on the counting device. When the container is emptied, the counter is reset to zero (0).

DESCRIPTIVE KEY

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The best mode for carrying out the invention is presented in terms of its preferred embodiment, herein depicted withinFIGS. 1 through 4and inFIG. 6as an alternate embodiment. However, the invention is not limited to the described embodiment and a person skilled in the art will appreciate that many other embodiments of the invention are possible without deviating from the basic concept of the invention, and that any such work around will also fall under scope of this invention. It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention, and only one particular configuration shall be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope.

The present invention describes a receptacle with a counting device (herein referred to as the “device”)10, which provides a means to mechanically count, and keep track of, the number of items placed into the container11to which the receptacle10is attached. As used herein, the term waste container11refers to any waste container, refuse canister, trash can, recycling container or other similar receptacle. This type of waste container11typically includes a container body for holding amounts of waste prior to pick up or disposal. The container11can include wheels attached to the container body or have no wheels. The container11can be provided with a removable lid12or an attached, hinged lid11that covers an interior of the container body. The waste container11can be used with out without a disposable can liner.

In certain embodiments, the device10is attached to the lid12of an existing waste container11with slight modifications. In certain embodiments, the device10is integral to the lid40of the container11forming a unitary device as shown inFIG. 6. Additionally, it can be appreciated that while the device10is particularly beneficial in the counting of cans13, bottles, and similar recyclable materials; it can be used for counting objects of various different types. For the purpose of illustrating the preferred embodiments, the device10is described as being a can counter used in association with a recycling container11.

Referring now toFIG. 1, a perspective view of the device10mounted to the lid12of a waste container11in accordance to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, is disclosed. The device10is comprised of a receptacle housing20and a counting device30mounted to the exterior of the housing20for incrementally counting the number of cans13inserted into the housing20for deposit within the container11. In the illustrated embodiment, the housing20has a generally square shape having four (4) sidewalls22connected along vertical edges defining a hollow interior channel21. It can be appreciated that the housing20can have various shapes, such as round or hexagonal yet still defining an internal hollow channel21extending entirely though the housing20and as such should not be viewed as a limiting factor of the device10. In the illustrated embodiment, the housing20is approximately four inches (4 in.) long, four inches (4 in.) wide, and four inches (4 in.) high. However it can be appreciated that the dimensions of the housing can vary without deviating from the scope and purpose of the device10. The housing20is preferably fabricated from a rigid, durable polymer in a typical thermoforming process, and includes a top opening23which provides access to the interior channel21, and a bottom opening24at the lower end of the channel21as can be seen inFIG. 3. The top opening23, the channel21, and the bottom opening24provide a passage for the can13to pass through a lid opening14in the lid12for deposit into the container11. The lid opening14is approximately equivalent in size and shape to the bottom opening24of the housing20. The housing20is fastened to the top surface of the lid12by at least one (1) fastener26, such as an angle clip with threaded fasteners, as best seen inFIG. 2.

Referring now toFIG. 2, an exploded perspective view of the receptacle with counter device10depicted with a waste container lid12andFIG. 5, a close-up view of the actuation arm32, plurality of digit wheels35, and ratchet36assembly, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, is disclosed. The housing20includes an access aperture25disposed in a sidewall to accommodate the motion of the actuation arm32of the counting device30. The counting device30is affixed to the exterior of the side wall of the housing20in proximity to the access aperture25with threaded fasteners or metal rivets. The actuation arm32has a proximal end and is attached to the indexing shaft31of the counting device30and projects through the access aperture25and into the channel21to terminate at a distal end. The distal end is a plate defining a contact point33that resides generally subjacent to the center of the top opening23to ensure contact with a can13as the can13passes through the receptacle housing20. The counting device30is preferably a Dayton, model6X158, five-digit mechanical counter with a reset feature, or similar. Each time the actuation arm32moves downwardly in response to a can13passing through the channel21, the counter tally is advanced by one (1) unit through a ratchet36operably controlled by the indexing shaft31. Since the digit wheels35are connected through the ratchet36, the digit wheels35do not reverse in response to the actuation arm32being returned to the up position by the action of an included spring38and thus keep a running tally of the number of cans13deposited within the container12. The counting device30also includes a counter reset34which can return all of the digit wheels35to a zeroed position.

Referring now toFIGS. 3 and 4, section views along the line A-A inFIG. 2of the receptacle lid12with counting device30showing a can13being counted in accordance to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, is presented. The can13is inserted into the top opening23and continues through the channel21formed by the sidewalls22of the receptacle housing20, eventually depressing the contact point33of the actuation arm32of the counting device. As the contact point33is encountered, the actuation arm32travels downward to operably rotate the index shaft31, where an engagement tine37of a drum portion of the indexing shaft31rotates the ratchet36and thus the digit wheels35, thereby causing the counting mechanism30to be advanced one (1) count. The digit wheels35each have a plurality of incremental numerals disposed thereon. The can13continues to progress through the channel21and pass by the actuation arm32which can then be returned to the horizontal orientation by the return spring38. The return spring38is mounted via a bracket39to the exterior of the housing20adjacent to the counting mechanism30. The can13finally passes through the bottom opening24of the receptacle housing20and the lid opening14to be deposited in the container11.

The preferred embodiment of the present invention can be utilized by the common user in a simple and straight forward manner with little or no training. After initial purchase or acquisition of the device10, it would be installed as indicated inFIGS. 1 and 2.

The method of installing and utilizing the device10may be achieved by performing the following steps: acquiring a model of the device10having the desired operating options; cutting a lid opening14in the lid12; positioning the housing20over the lid opening14such that the channel21and bottom opening24are aligned with the lid opening14; attaching the housing20to the lid12by a plurality of brackets26and mechanical fasteners; installing the lid12onto the container11; resetting the counting device30via the counter reset34to zero (00000); and inserting a can13into the top opening23of the receptacle housing20and having the can13pass through the channel21of the receptacle housing20to depress the contact point33of the actuation arm32and thereby cause the actuation arm32to rotate the indexing shaft31, to which the proximal end of the actuation arm32is attached, to advance the count by one (1) unit according to the preferred embodiment, one at a time, over the course of days or weeks, until the desired number is registered on the counting device30.