Trash receptacle with retractable foot pedal

A trash receptacle having a main body portion including side walls and an open top and closed bottom, one of the side walls being provided with a recessed area adjacent its bottom. A pedal pivotally mounted on one end at the bottom of the recessed area is retained in a first or normally retracted position adjacent the main body portion by a spring in contact with the pedal. Pressure on the pedal moves it to a second or lowered substantially horizontal position for holding the trash receptacle down by foot pressure while removing a bag liner.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention is generally related to trash receptacles, and more 
particularly, to a trash receptacle having a foot pedal for holding down 
the receptacle during unloading. 
2. General Background 
Trash receptacles used in homes and businesses are typically lined with a 
disposable paper or plastic bag to receive the trash. This serves the dual 
purpose of eliminating the need to clean the receptacle and providing a 
disposable container for the trash. However, when the bag becomes full, 
removal from the receptacle can be difficult. The weight of the trash 
presses the bag against the side of the receptacle and causes lifting of 
the receptacle along with the bag. Since lifting of the bag is usually a 
two-handed procedure, a means for holding down the trash receptacle that 
does not require the use of a person's hands while lifting the bag is 
needed. Trash receptacles known to the inventor include the following. 
U.S. Pat. No. 1,286,368 entitled "Odorless Garbage Receptacle" discloses a 
garbage receptacle having two fixed position, oppositely directed foot 
pieces that extend outwardly from the bottom of the receptacle for 
standing on when removing an upper hopper from the receptacle. 
U.S. Pat. No. 1,351,747 entitled "Garbage Can" discloses a trash receptacle 
designed to receive an inner container having a conical bottom. The inner 
container rests on a ring and tabs positioned inside the main container, 
and, is provided with handles for lifting it out of the main container. 
U.S. Pat. No. 4,440,321 entitled "Debris Receptacle, Cover, And Contents 
Compressor And Discharge Assembly" discloses a receptacle and cover 
assembly for collecting lawn debris and the like. A bottom skirt portion 
provides access to a movable bottom panel member that serves as a 
discharge assist piston. 
U.S. Pat. No. 4,763,809 entitled "Waste Container And Adjustable Bag Linear 
Packaged Holder Combination" discloses a rigid container with a rigid 
bottom skirt. An adjustable pawl arm extends through the skirt and is 
provided with a vertical member to hold a supply package of linear bags 
between the vertical member and the container. 
U.S. Pat. No. 4,930,653 entitled "Refuse Container Caddy Apparatus" 
discloses a caddy apparatus for refuse containers for securely holding 
polygonal or circular cross-section containers. 
U.S. Pat. No. 3,306,486 entitled "Waste Receptacle" discloses a waste 
receptacle useful in commercial areas that may be anchored to a horizontal 
surface and is provided with a hood and pivoting door. 
U.S. Pat. No. 3,927,786 entitled "Containers For Waste For Use With Trash 
Bags" discloses a waste container where a tubular member opened at both 
ends is attached at one end to a tub. Lifting of the tubular member away 
from the tub and trash bag eliminates the need to lift the heavy trash bag 
the full height over the container when unloading. 
U.S. Pat. Nos. RE 30,875; 4,972,966; and, 4,785,964 disclose molded 
receptacles that provide for the use of foot pedals to lift the top. 
Although a variety of trash containers are known, none are specifically 
directed to a trash receptacle that provides a hands-free means for 
holding down the receptacle while removing the bag liner and that also 
does not require extra space beyond the receptacle when this feature is 
not in use. 
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
The preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention solves 
the aforementioned problems in a straightforward and simple manner. What 
is provided is a trash receptacle with a retractable foot pedal. The trash 
receptacle is a container formed from a main body portion having an open 
upper end and a closed bottom. The main body portion is provided with a 
recessed area adjacent the bottom. A pedal pivotally mounted at the bottom 
of the recessed area is movable between a first normally retracted 
position abutting the wall of the recessed area and a second lowered, 
substantially horizontal position. In its first position, the pedal takes 
minimal space outside of the main body portion. In its second lowered 
position, the pedal provides a temporary anchoring point for the 
receptacle by the placement of a person's foot thereon. This allows a bag 
liner to be removed from the receptacle with both hands without lifting 
the trash receptacle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Referring now to the drawings, and in particular FIG. 1, the apparatus of 
the present invention is designated generally by the numeral 10. Apparatus 
10 is generally comprised of main body portion 12 and pedal assembly 15. 
Main body portion 12 has front and rear walls 13a, 13b and side walls 13c, 
13d an open upper end 16 and closed bottom 18. In the preferred embodiment 
illustrated in FIGS. 1-4, main body portion 12 is illustrated as being 
rectangular in cross-section. However, it should be understood that any 
shape including circular may be used. 
Main body portion 12 is provided with recessed area 20 in side wall 13c 
adjacent bottom 18 which accommodates pedal assembly 15. As best seen in 
FIG. 2, recessed area 20 is formed by providing rectangular cutout or 
notch 22 in side wall 13c of main body portion 12. Plate 24 is U-shaped in 
cross-section, as best seen in FIG. 3, and sized to fit within U-shaped 
cutout 22. Plate 24 is provided with circumferential flange 26 that 
extends at right angles thereto. This allows plate 24 to be received in 
cutout 22 while flange 26 acts as a stop against side wall 13c of main 
body portion 12. Flange 26 is permanently attached to main body portion 12 
by any suitable means such as gluing or sizing the plate 24 and flange 26 
to rigidly snap into place in recessed area 20. 
Pedal assembly 15 includes pedal 14 which is pivotally mounted to the lower 
end of plate 24, that is the end near the bottom of recessed area 20, on 
hinge pin 28. Each end of hinge pin 28 is secured in opposing sides of 
plate 24 as best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3. The opposite or free end of pedal 
14 is provided an arcuate tab 30 that extends or arcs outwardly away from 
main body portion 12 when pedal 14 is in the retracted position of FIGS. 1 
and 2. Tab 30 serves as a pressure point for moving pedal 14 from its 
first or normally retracted position adjacent plate 24 (FIGS. 1 and 2) to 
its second or lowered position (FIGS. 3 and 4). Pedal 14 is retained in 
its first or normally retracted, substantially vertical position by the 
urging of spring 32. In a manner known, spring 32 is mounted on hinge pin 
28 and bears against plate 24 and pedal 14 (as best seen in FIG. 2) to 
maintain pedal 14 in its first or normally retracted position while also 
allowing it to be moved to its second or lowered position (FIGS. 3 and 4). 
Spring 32 causes pedal 14 to move back to its first or normally retracted 
position with release of pressure thereon. 
In operation, a person puts pressure on tab 30 with his foot and causes 
pedal 14 to move from its first or normally retracted, substantially 
vertical position of FIGS. 1 and 2, to its second or lowered, 
substantially horizontal position of FIGS. 3 and 4. Liner bag 34 may then 
be easily removed from trash receptacle 10 without lifting the receptacle 
also as best illustrated in FIG. 4. 
Upon release of foot pressure on pedal 14, it is caused to return to its 
first or normally retracted position of FIGS. 1 and 2 by the urging of 
spring 32. Trash receptacle 10 may be formed from any suitable material 
such as molded plastic. In accordance with molding procedures, recessed 
area 20 may also be integral with main body portion 12 as opposed to using 
plate 24. As seen in FIG. 2, the use of recessed area 20 requires little 
or no space exterior of trash receptacle 10 and also minimizes any effect 
on the interior space available in trash receptacle 10. 
Yet a further embodiment of the present invention provides a conventional 
receptacle 10, without recessed area 20, but with a pedal assembly 15 
mounted on the surface of one of the side walls 13c, 13d. This can be 
accomplished by the inside surface of plate 24 being fastened to either of 
side walls 13c, 13d by fastening means such as gluing, double-sided tape, 
VELCRO.sup.R, ultrasonic welding, or the like. 
Because many varying and differing embodiments may be made within the scope 
of the inventive concept herein taught and because many modifications may 
be made in the embodiment herein detailed in accordance with the 
descriptive requirement of the law, it is to be understood that the 
details herein are to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting 
sense.