Linen hamper

A linen hamper made of a light weight tubular frame for releasably securing a hamper bag includes an open top which can be closed by a pivotally mounted lid. The lid is connected to a foot pedal pivotally mounted on the frame, by an adjustable control rod pivotally connected to each. A closing cylinder is biased to close the lid when pressure is removed from the foot pedal. However, the control rod is adjustable to a second state in which the pivot point of its connection to the lid is aligned or is over center relative to the pivot point of the lid, and with respect to the closing force exerted by the control rod on the lid, such that the closing cylinder cannot close the lid until the lid is tapped forwardly slightly.

FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of linen hampers. Such hampers often have a foot pedal which when pressed, lifts the lid on the hamper. When the users foot is removed, the lid closes, often with a bang. One company has a large solid walled, heavy clothes hamper which includes a damper cause the lid to close more slowly when the user's foot is removed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The clothes hamper of the present invention comprises a lid connected to a foot pedal by at least one adjustable control rod. A cylinder closer is connected between the hamper and either the lid or the foot pedal, and in one control rod adjustment state, is biased to close the lid slowly and quietly when the foot pedal is released. However, the control rod can be adjusted such that when the foot pedal is fully depressed, the lid assumes an open position from which the cylinder will not close the lid when the foot pedal is released. The user taps the lid in a closing direction, and the cylinder will then slowly close the lid.

These and other objects, advantages and features of the invention will be more fully understood and appreciated by reference to the appended drawings and the Description of the Preferred Embodiments.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The hamper1of the preferred embodiment comprises a frame10, a lid20, a foot pedal30, control rods40, a closing cylinder50, and a hamper bag60which can be removably mounted on frame10(seeFIGS. 1-3). Control rods40connect lid20to foot pedal30and are adjustable such that lid20can be opened to either the position shown inFIG. 7A, in which closing cylinder50causes lid20to close when pressure is removed from it and causes lid20to close. Alternatively, control rods40can be adjusted such that when foot pedal30is depressed, lid20is pushed into the position shown inFIG. 7B, such that closing cylinder50will not cause lid20to close when the user's foot is removed from foot pedal30. A slight tap on lid20in the closure direction is required for the closing cylinder to then lift foot pedal30and cause lid20to close.

The various components of the preferred embodiment are set forth and numbered in the parts list below:

Frame10is a lightweight tubular frame, preferably made of aluminum tubing or other lightweight material (FIGS. 2-4). It comprises a pair of rear legs11and front legs12, joined at their tops to a top opening frame13. Top frame13comprises a front cross member13a, rearwardly extending legs13b, and a rear cross member13c. The rearwardly extending legs13bextend a short distance beyond rear cross member13c.

Legs11and12are joined towards their bottom ends by a bottom bag support frame16. Bottom bag support frame16not only provides structure for cart1through its connection to rear legs and front legs11and12, but also provides a support for a hamper bag when it is removably hung on cart1.

A hamper bag retainer frame14sits on the top of top frame13. Frame14is pivotally mounted on a retainer frame pivot axle15, which in turn is fastened loosely to top frame13, such that bag retainer frame14can not only be pivoted upwardly, but also can be lifted somewhat along its rear, to facilitate mounting a hamper bag on cart1. Casters17are secured in the bottom of tubular legs11and12such that hamper1can be conveniently moved about.

Hamper lid20includes a pair of side flanges21projecting downwardly from each side at the rear of lid20(FIGS. 5-7B). A lid pivot axle22passes through holes in side flanges21and into the opposite side tubular members13bof top frame member13. Pivot axle22is located just slightly above and to the rear of the rear cross member13cof top frame13. Lid20opens and closes by pivoting on pivot axle22.

Foot pedal30preferably comprises a generally U-shaped tubular frame member having side legs31and a front cross member32. A pedal axle33extends between rear legs11near the bottoms thereof. Axle33passes through the end portions of the side legs31of pedal30such that pedal30can be pivoted up and down on pivot axle33. Pivot axle33is positioned slightly below bottom bag support frame16, and the front of foot pedal30extends out beyond the front of bottom bag support frame16for easy access. The front cross member32of foot pedal30is covered by a rubber or plastic sleeve34which provides a protective cushion on which the user can place his or her foot to depress foot pedal30.

Closing cylinder50is connected at one end to foot pedal30at a pivot point a few inches forward of foot pedal pivot axle33. Control rod40is bent at its point of connection to foot pedal30, whereby it includes an extension which passes through foot pedal leg31. Cylinder50is pivotally connected to said extension of said control rod41, thereby being pivotally connected to foot pedal30. At its other end, closing cylinder50is connected to a rear leg11of frame10. Closing cylinder50is biased to the closing position, and thus tends to pull foot pedal30upwardly when a user releases his or her foot from foot pedal30.

Foot pedal30is connected to the side flanges21of lid20by two control rods40, one on one side and one on the other side of foot pedal30and lid20. Because of this connection, depression of foot pedal30tends to pull lid20open as shown inFIGS. 7A, 7B. Control rods40comprise an aluminum or steel rod, but also a connector41which pivotally connects the rods to their respective lid side flanges21. (FIGS. 5-7B). Connector41has a threaded bottom sleeve41a, and upwardly extending side legs41b, each of which has an aperture near its upper end for receiving a connector pin42. The threaded sleeve41ais threaded onto the threaded end40aof control rod40. Connector41is positioned with its side legs41bon either side of lid side flange21, and the apertures in legs41bare aligned with an aperture21ain side flange21such that connector pin42can be inserted therethrough and thereby join connector41of control rod40to the side flange21of lid20.

Connector pin42is held in place by a connector pin latch43, which includes a leg43aand a generally U-shaped clip43bwhich clips over the outside of threaded sleeve41aof connector41, thereby holding pin42in place. If a user wants to adjust the length of control rod40, he or she simply unclips connector pin latch43, removes pin42, and removes connector41from its embracing relationship with top side flange21, thereby allowing the user to thread connector41upwardly or downwardly on the threaded end40aof control rod40. In this way, the user changes the length of control rod40.

Control rod40is connected to its respective lid side flange21a short distance behind the pivot axle22for lid20. In this manner, depression of foot pedal30pulls downwardly on the rear of side flange21, causing lid20to pivot up on pivot axle22to an open position as shown for example inFIGS. 2, 4, 5, and 7A or 7B. Whether lid20is opened to a slightly forwardly inclined open position as shown inFIG. 7A, or to a slightly rearwardly inclined position as shown inFIG. 7Bis a function of the length of the control rods40. As shown inFIG. 7A, control rod40is said to be adjusted to its first state or condition. As shown inFIG. 7A, control rod40is said to be adjusted to its second state or condition.

By shortening the length of control rod40sufficiently, depression of foot pedal30will pull lid20open to a slightly rearwardly inclined position as shown inFIG. 7B. Because control rod40extends upwardly to its connection with said side flange21of lid20at a slight rearward angle to vertical, lid21is inclined rearwardly from vertical when it is opened with control rod40in its shorter state as shown inFIG. 7B. In this position, the pivot axle22for lid20and the connector pin42of control rod40are in alignment with, or possibly slightly over center relative to, a closing force exerted on control rod40by cylinder50. As such, cylinder50will not be able to close the lid20when lid20is in the position shown inFIG. 7B. To close lid20from the position shown inFIG. 7B, the user must tap lid20in a forward direction, such that pivot42pin becomes located behind pivot axle22as shown inFIG. 7A, thus allowing cylinder50to pull foot pedal30upwardly and cause control rod40to push lid20closed.

Hamper bag60includes flaps61which can be passed between hamper retainer frame14and top frame13and wrapped around the respective sides of top frame13and secured by securement tabs62such that hamper60is held in position as shown inFIG. 3.

Thus, the preferred embodiment utility cart provides a very lightweight, mobile hamper having a lid20which can be opened by depressing foot pedal30. The control rods40between foot pedal30and hamper lid20can be adjusted in length such that depression of foot pedal30opens the lid to the position shown inFIG. 7A, or to the position shown inFIG. 7B. In the former position, lid20will close slowly and quietly when the user removes his or her foot from foot pedal30. In the position shown inFIG. 7B, lid20will not close when the user removes his or her foot from foot pedal30, thereby allowing the user to continue loading or removing clothes from the clothes hamper bag60without having to retain his or her foot on foot pedal30. When the user desires to close lid20, he or she simply taps it in a forward direction and cylinder50will then slowly and quietly close lid20in the manner illustrated inFIG. 7A.

Of course, it is understood that the foregoing is a preferred embodiment of the invention and that various changes and alterations can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the appended claims, interpreted in accordance with the principles of patent law.