Garbage container

A garbage container including a body member for containing garbage therein, the body member having an upper opening; a lid member for closing the upper opening of the body member, the lid member having a handle provided on an upper surface thereof, the handle being gripped with a hand of a user for moving the lid member to close or open the upper opening of the body member; an engageable member which is provided on one of the body member and the lid member and which is engageable with the other of the body member and the lid member to prevent the lid member from separating from the body member; and an operable member which is operable by the user for moving or displacing the engageable member between an engaged position where the engageable member is engaged with the other of the body member and the lid member and a disengaged position where the engageable member is disengaged from the other of the body member and the lid member, the operable member being provided on, or in a vicinity of, the handle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates to a garbage container including a body 
member and a lid member and particularly to the art of engaging and 
disengaging the lid member with and from the body member. 
2. Related Art Statement 
There is known an outdoor-use garbage container including a body member for 
containing garbage therein, and a lid member which is attached to an upper 
end of the body member for closing an upper opening of the body member. 
The lid member has a handle provided on an outer or upper surface thereof, 
and the handle is gripped with one hand of a user for moving the lid 
member to close or open the upper opening of the body member. 
FIG. 8 shows an example of the known garbage container. The prior garbage 
container 152 includes a body member 112 which has a box-like 
configuration with a bottom wall and an upper opening, and a lid member 
114 which has a handle 122 provided at a generally central location of an 
outer or upper surface thereof. Two bearing members 156, 156 are supported 
by respective upper portions of the body member 112 which are opposed to 
each other in a first horizontal direction. The two bearings 156, 156 
respectively bear two axis members 154, 154 which extend in a second 
horizontal direction perpendicular to the first horizontal direction, 
i.e., perpendicular to the sheet of the drawing. Two engagement members 
158, 158 are respectively supported by the two bearing members 156, 156 
such that the engagement members 158 are rotatable about the axis members 
154, 154, respectively. 
In the prior garbage container 152, with the upper opening of the body 
member 112 being closed with the lid member 114, each of the engagement 
members 158 is rotated upward about a corresponding axis member 154 and is 
engaged with the upper surface of the lid member 114, so that the lid 
member 114 is sandwiched under pressure between the upper end face of the 
body member 112 and the two engagement members 158, 158. Thus, the lid 
member 114 is effectively prevented from freely separating from the body 
member 112. 
However, when a user engages or disengages the engagement members 158 with 
or from the lid member 114, he or she must hold down the lid member 114 
with one hand and rotate each of the engagement members 158 with the other 
hand, or must simultaneously rotate the two engagement members 158. In 
either case, the user must use both hands. Accordingly, when the user puts 
garbage in the container, he or she cannot open the lid member 114 while 
keeping the garbage in his or her hand. Thus, the prior garbage container 
suffers from the problem of low ease of use. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a garbage 
container including a lid member, a body member, and an engageable member 
which is easily engageable with, and disengageable from, the lid or body 
member with one hand of a user and accordingly enjoys improved ease of 
use. 
The above object has been achieved according to the present invention, 
which provides a garbage container comprising a body member for containing 
garbage therein, the body member having an upper opening; a lid member for 
closing the upper opening of the body member, the lid member having a 
handle provided on an upper surface thereof, the handle being gripped with 
a hand of a user for moving the lid member to close or open the upper 
opening of the body member; at least one engageable member which is 
provided on one of the body member and the lid member and which is 
engageable with the other of the body member and the lid member to prevent 
the lid member from separating from the body member; and an operable 
member which is operable by the user for moving or displacing the 
engageable member between an engaged position where the engageable member 
is engaged with the other of the body member and the lid member and a 
disengaged position where the engageable member is disengaged from the 
other of the body member and the lid member, the operable member being 
provided on, or in a vicinity of, the handle. 
In the garbage container constructed as described above, a user can very 
easily engage or disengage, when moving the lid member to close or open 
the upper opening of the body member, the engageable member with or from 
the lid or body member, by using one hand for gripping the handle of the 
lid member and using a finger of the gripping hand for operating the 
operable member to move or displace the engageable member to the engaged 
or disengaged position. Thus, in the garbage container, the engageable 
member can easily be engaged with, and disengaged from, the lid or body 
member with one hand of the user. Accordingly, for example, the user can 
easily open the lid member with one hand while simultaneously keeping 
garbage in the other hand. Thus, the present garbage container is easier 
to use. 
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the at least one 
engageable member comprises a plurality of engageable members, a first one 
of the engageable members being movable or displaceable between the 
engaged and disengaged positions. In this embodiment, the engagement of 
the engageable member with the lid or body member is performed with high 
reliability. 
In another embodiment of the present invention, the first one of the 
engageable members is provided at a first position on a peripheral portion 
of the lid member, such that the first engageable member is movable or 
displaceable between the engaged and disengaged positions, and a second 
one of the engageable members is fixed at a second position on the 
peripheral portion of the lid member, the second position being 
substantially symmetrical with the first position with respect to a center 
of the lid member, each of the first and second engageable members being 
engageable with an upper portion of the body member which portion defines 
the upper opening. The first and second engageable members engage the 
upper portion of the body member, at respective positions which are 
symmetrical with each other with respect to a center of the body member. 
Thus, the lid member is effectively prevented from freely separating from 
the body member. Since only the first engagement member out of the first 
and second engagement members is movable or displaceable, the operable 
member has only to move or displace fewer engageable members. In addition, 
the fixed, second engagement member enjoys a simple construction. 
In another embodiment of the present invention, the upper portion of the 
body member comprises an outwardly protruding flange, each of the first 
and second engageable members including a hook portion which is engageable 
with the flange, the first engageable member being provided on the lid 
member such that the hook portion of the first engageable member is 
movable outward over an outer peripheral edge of the lid member by a 
predetermined distance. In this embodiment, the engageable members are 
engaged with, and disengaged from, the body member with high reliability 
and stability. 
In another embodiment of the present invention, the first engageable member 
includes, in addition to the hook portion thereof provided on the 
peripheral portion of the lid member, an operational portion extending 
from the hook portion thereof toward the handle of the lid member, the 
operable member being operable for moving the operational portion and 
thereby moving the first engageable member between the engaged and 
disengaged positions. In this embodiment, the movable, first engageable 
member enjoys a simple construction. 
In another embodiment of the present invention, the hook portion of at 
least one of the first and second engageable members has an inclined or 
curved guide surface which is inclined downward in an outward direction in 
which the flange of the body member protrudes. In this embodiment, when 
the lid member is attached to an upper end of the body member to close the 
upper opening of the same, the hook portion or portions of the first 
and/or second engageable members is/are guided by the inclined or curved 
guide surface or surfaces contacting the upper end of the body member, so 
that the two engagement members are smoothly engaged with the flange of 
the body member. Thus, the upper opening of the body member is easily 
closed with the lid member. 
In another embodiment of the present invention, the garbage container 
further comprises a biasing device which biases the engageable member in a 
direction in which the engageable member is moved or displaced toward the 
engaged position. In this embodiment, owing to the biasing force of the 
biasing device, the stable engagement of the engageable member with the 
lid or body member is maintained with reliability, and the lid member is 
effectively prevented from freely separating from the body member. The lid 
member is easily attached to the body member by operating the operable 
member to move or displace the engageable member to the disengaged 
position, subsequently placing the lid member on the upper end of the body 
member, and then stopping the operation of the operable member. 
Consequently the engageable member is immediately moved or displaced to 
the engaged position owing to the biasing force of the biasing device. 
That is, simultaneously with the attachment of the lid member to the body 
member, the engageable member is engaged with the body member with 
reliability, without needing any special operation of the user. In the 
case where the biasing device biases the above-mentioned movable, first 
engageable member and the hook portion of the first engageable member has 
the above-mentioned inclined or curved guide surface, the first engageable 
member is moved, first, from the engaged position to the disengaged 
position against the biasing force of the biasing device and, then, from 
the disengaged position to the engaged position owing to the biasing 
force, by just pushing down the lid member against the body member, with 
the inclined or curved guide surface of the hook portion of the first 
engageable member being held in contact with the upper end face of the 
flange of the body member. Thus, the lid member is smoothly attached to 
the body member, without needing the operation of the operable member. At 
the same time, the first engageable member is engaged with the flange of 
the body member with reliability. Thus, the present garbage container 
provides even further improved ease of use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
Referring first to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is illustrated a garbage container 
10 embodying the present invention. As can be seen in the figures, the 
container 10 includes a body member 12 and a lid member 14, and has a 
box-like configuration with a generally rectangular cross section. 
More specifically, the body member 12 of the container 10 is formed of a 
synthetic resin and has, as shown in FIG. 3, a box-like configuration with 
an upper opening 16 and a bottom wall. The body member 12 can contain 
garbage which is put therein through the upper opening 16 by a user. A 
flange 18 protrudes horizontally outward and then vertically downward, 
from an entire, upper end of the body member 12, thereby surrounding the 
upper opening 16. The flange 18 is integrally formed with the body member 
12. In FIG. 3, reference numerals 20, 20 denote a pair of body handles 
which are adapted to be gripped by the user to lift and move the body 
member 12 or the garbage container 10 as a whole. 
The lid member 14 is wider than the upper opening 16 and flange 18 of the 
body member 12, and has a generally rectangular, dish-like configuration 
corresponding to that of the body member 12, as shown in FIG. 2. In a 
generally middle portion of an upper surface of the lid member 14, there 
is provided a bridge-like handle 22 which extends parallel to a pair of 
opposite long sides of the lid member 14. The handle 22 is integrally 
formed with the lid member 14. The user can grip the handle 22 and move 
the lid member 14 to close or open the upper opening 16 of the body member 
12. 
A frame member 24 formed of a synthetic resin is provided on the entire 
upper end of the body member 12. When the lid member 14 is placed on the 
body member 12 and two engagement members 26, 28 (described later) are 
engaged with the flange 18 of the body member 12, the frame member 24 is 
sandwiched between the body member 12 and the lid member 14, thereby 
effectively preventing the lid member 14 from rattling on the body member 
12. 
As shown in FIG. 2, the fixed engagement member 26 and the movable 
engagement member 28 are provided symmetrically at generally middle 
positions of a pair of opposite short sides of the lid member 14, 
respectively. Each of the engagement members 26, 28 is formed of a 
synthetic-resin-based plate having a prescribed width. The fixed 
engagement member 26 is provided by a hook member 30 having a generally 
L-shaped cross section. The hook member 30 includes a lower portion which 
extends horizontally inward by a prescribed length over a lower end of an 
outer peripheral portion of the lid member 14. An upper portion of the 
hook member 30 is fixed to the outer surface of the lid member with vis 
screws. Thus, the hook member 30 as the fixed engagement member 26 is 
fixed at the middle position of one short side of the peripheral portion 
of the lid member 14. 
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the movable engagement member 28 includes a hook 
portion 31 having a shape similar to that of the hook member 30 as the 
fixed engagement member, and an operational portion 32 which extends from 
an upper end of an upper portion of the hook portion 31 in substantially 
the same direction in which a lower portion of the same 31 extends. The 
operational portion 32 has a width smaller than that of the hook portion 
31. The hook portion 31 and the operational portion 32 are integrally 
formed with each other. At a position on the peripheral portion of the lid 
member 14 which is generally symmetrical with the position where the fixed 
engagement member 26 is provided, the lower portion of the hook portion 31 
extends horizontally inward over the lower end of the peripheral portion 
of the lid member 14. The operational portion 32 extends from the outside 
to the inside through a through-hole 34 formed through the thickness of 
the peripheral portion of the lid member 14. The operational portion 32 
further extends along the inner surface of the lid member 14, up to a 
location where the handle 22 is provided. 
The operational portion 32 of the movable engagement member 28 has two 
through-holes 36, 37 each of which is formed through the thickness thereof 
and which have respective prescribed lengths. The first through-hole 36 is 
provided on the side of the handle 22, and the second through-hole 37 is 
provided on the side of the hook portion 31. The lid member 14 has two 
hanging projections 38, 39 which are provided on the lower or inner side 
thereof and on both sides of the handle 22, respectively, and which are 
integrally formed therewith. Each hanging projection 38, 39 is used to 
hang the lid member 14 on, e.g., the flange 18 of the body member 12. The 
first hanging projection 38 extends through the first through-hole 36 of 
the operational portion 32 of the movable engagement member 28. A 
sheet-like spring 42 formed of a synthetic resin and a reinforcement metal 
plate 40 are fixed, with a vis screw, to opposite surfaces of the first 
hanging projection 38, respectively. More specifically, a lower end 
portion of the sheet-like spring 42 is fixed to one of the opposite 
surfaces of the first projection 38 which one surface is opposed to the 
hook portion 31 of the movable engagement member 28. An upper end portion 
of the sheet-like spring 42 extends through the second through-hole 37 of 
the operational portion 32 on the side of the hook portion 31. 
In the vicinity of the handle 22 on the upper side of the lid member 14, 
there is provided a slide member 44 which includes a large and a small 
plate having respective thickness values. The slide member 44 is movable 
or slideable in an outward direction of the lid member 14, i.e., direction 
from the handle 22 toward the movable engagement member 28. The lid member 
14 has, under the slide member 44, an elongate guide hole 46 which is 
formed through the thickness thereof and which extends over a prescribed 
length between the location where the handle 22 is provided and the 
location where the movable engagement member 28 is provided. The slide 
member 44 is connected, via a vis member which extends through the guide 
hole 46, to an upper end of the operational portion 32 of the movable 
engagement member 28, near the handle 22, on the inner side of the lid 
member 14. 
In the garbage container 10 constructed as described above, the operational 
portion 32 of the movable engagement member 28 is supported by the slide 
member 44 and a portion of the lid member 14 which defines the 
through-hole 34 and, when the slide member 44 is moved outward of the lid 
member 14, in the guide hole 46, with the thumb or finger of one hand of 
the user, the hook portion 31 can be moved outward from the outer 
peripheral edge of the lid member 14 by a distance equal to the length of 
the first elongate hole 36 through which the first hanging projection 38 
extends, or equal to the length of the guide hole 46 provided directly 
below the slide member 44. When the hook portion 31 is moved outward of 
the lid member 14, the hook portion 31 or the movable engagement member 28 
is biased inward of the lid member 14 with the biasing force produced by 
the sheet-like spring 42 extending through the second hole 37. 
Thus, the movable engagement member 28 is movable between an engaged 
position where the hook portion 31 thereof is engageable with the flange 
18 provided at the upper end of the body member 12 and an outwardly 
distant disengaged position where the hook portion 31 is disengaged from 
the flange 18, while the movable engagement member 28 is biased to move 
toward the engaged position by the sheet-like spring 42. Thus, in the 
present embodiment, the sheet-like spring 42 provides an element of a 
biasing device which biases the movable engageable member 28 in the inward 
direction in which the member 28 is moved toward the engaged position, and 
the slide member 44 provides an operable member which is operable by the 
user for moving the engageable member 28 between the engaged and 
disengaged positions. 
As shown in FIG. 2, there are provided two guide members 45, 45 near the 
fixed and movable engagement members 26, 28 in the peripheral portion of 
the lid member 14. Each guide member 45 has a prescribed height and a 
prescribed length. Thus, the movable engagement member 28 can easily be 
moved on the upper surface of the lid member 14 such that the operational 
portion 32 thereof slides on one of the guide members 45. 
In the present embodiment, each of the hook member 30 and the hook portion 
31 of the two engagement members 26, 28 includes a guide portion 50 having 
an inclined guide surface 48 which is inclined downward in the outward 
direction of the lid member 14. 
Thus, the user can easily attach the lid member 14 to the body member 12 by 
using only one hand to grip the handle 22, moving the lid member 14 
relative to the body member 12 such that the respective guide surfaces 48, 
48 of the hook member and portion 30, 31 of the two engageable members 26, 
28 contact respective portions of the upper end face of the flange 18 of 
the body member 12, and pushing down the lid member 14. Consequently the 
hook member and portion 30, 31 are advantageously guided by the guide 
surfaces 48, 48 contacting the flange 18, so that the hook member 30 of 
the fixed engagement member 26 engages the flange 18 and the hook portion 
31 of the movable engagement member 28 moves outward of the lid member 14 
against the biasing force of the sheet-like spring 42, then moves inward 
by the biasing force, and engages the flange 18. Thus, in the garbage 
container 10, the lid member 14 is effectively prevented from freely 
separating from the body member 12. 
As indicated by the two-dot chain lines in FIG. 4, when the lid member 14 
is removed from the upper opening 16 of the body member 12, the user grips 
the handle 22 with his or her hand and moves with the thumb or finger of 
that hand the slide member 44 provided in the vicinity of the handle 22, 
against the biasing force of the sheet spring 42, in the outward direction 
of the lid member 14. Consequently the movable engagement member 28 is 
moved outward of the lid member 14 and the hook portion 31 is moved to the 
disengaged position where the hook portion 31 is disengaged from the 
flange 18. In this situation, the lid member 14 can be lifted up and 
separated from the body member 12. 
As is apparent from the foregoing description, the garbage container 10 in 
accordance with the present embodiment enables the user to engage and 
disengage the movable engagement member 28 (and the fixed engagement 
member 26) with and from the body member 12 by just moving, with the thumb 
or finger of his or her one hand gripping the handle 22, the slide member 
44 provided in the vicinity of the handle 22, relative to the lid member 
14. Thus, the ease of use of the garbage container 10 is much improved as 
compared with, e.g., the prior garbage container 152 shown in FIG. 8. 
In addition, in the garbage container 10, the flange 18 is provided at the 
upper end of the body member 12 which defines the upper opening 16, and 
the fixed and movable engagement members 26, 28, each provided on the lid 
member 14, include the hook member 30 and the hook portion 31 which are 
engageable with opposite portions of the flange 18, respectively. The 
movable engagement member 28 can be moved to project outward over the 
outer peripheral edge of the lid member 14, by a length equal to the 
length of the first elongate hole 36 of the operational portion 32 of the 
movable engagement member 28, or the length of the guide hole 46 of the 
lid member 14. Thus, the engagement and disengagement of the two 
engageable members 26, 28 with and from the body member 12 can be 
performed with high reliability and stability. 
Furthermore, in the garbage container 10, the fixed engagement member 26 is 
fixed in position relative to the lid member 14, and the movable 
engagement member 28 is provided at a position symmetrical with the 
position where the fixed member 26 is provided, with respect to the center 
of the lid member 14, such that the movable member 28 is movable between 
the engaged position where the member 28 is engageable with the flange 18 
of the body member 12 and the disengaged position where the member 28 is 
disengaged from the flange 18. Thus, the lid member 14 is advantageously 
attached to the body member 12 with high stability. In addition, since 
only one of the two engagement members 26, 28 is movable between the 
engaged and disengaged positions, the present garbage container 10 enjoys 
a simple construction than the case where each of a plurality of 
engagement members would be movable. 
In the present garbage container 10, the movable engagement member 28 
includes the hook portion 31 that is engageable with the flange 18 of the 
body member 12 and the operational portion 32 that is connected to the 
slide member 44 provided in the vicinity of the handle 22 of the lid 
member 14. As the slide member 44 is moved by the user, the engagement 
member 28 is moved between the engaged and disengaged positions. Thus, the 
movable engagement member 28 enjoys a very simple arrangement. 
The present garbage container 10 employs the sheet-like spring 42 that 
biases the movable engagement member 28 in the direction in which the 
member 28 is moved toward the engaged position. Thus, the engagements of 
the hook member and portions 30, 31 of the fixed and movable engagement 
members 26, 28 with the flange 18 of the body member 12 can be maintained 
with high stability. 
Moreover, in the present garbage container 10, the hook member and portions 
30, 31 of the fixed and movable engagement members 26, 28 have the 
respective inclined guide surfaces 48, 48 that help the user engage the 
two engageable members 26, 28 with the flange 18 of the body member 12 by 
just pushing down the lid member 14 against the body member 12 without 
needing to move the slide member 44. Thus, the lid member 14 is easily 
attached to the body member 12, and the ease of use of the garbage 
container 10 is still more improved. 
While in the garbage container 10 in accordance with the first embodiment 
shown in FIGS. 1-4 the sheet-like spring 42 that applies the biasing force 
to the movable engagement member 28 in the direction in which the member 
28 is moved toward the engaged position in which the member 28 is 
engageable with the flange 18 of the body member 12, is fixed with the vis 
to the first hanging projection 38 projecting from the inner or lower 
surface of the lid member 14, the biasing spring 42 and the hanging 
projection 38 may be replaced by a single, integrally formed member which 
projects from a prescribed location on the inner surface of the lid member 
14, as described below. 
Referring next to FIGS. 5, 6, and 7 there is shown a lid member 14 employed 
in another garbage container as a second embodiment of the present 
invention. The same reference numerals as used in the first embodiment 
shown in FIGS. 1-4 are used to designate the corresponding elements or 
portions of the second embodiment shown in FIGS. 5-7, and the description 
of those elements or portions is omitted in the following description in 
which only the differences between the first and second embodiments are 
highlighted. 
As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, in the second embodiment, there are provided a 
pair of projections 60, 60 between a location where a handle 22 (not shown 
in the figures) is formed and a location where a hook portion 31 of a 
movable engagement member 28 is provided, on an inner side of the lid 
member 14. The projections 60 are integrally formed with the lid member 14 
such that the projections 60 are located on both sides of an operational 
portion 32 of the movable engagement member 28 as seen in a direction of 
width of the operational portion 32, are opposed to each other in the same 
direction, and project a prescribed length from an inner surface of the 
lid member 14. A biasing member 66 including a spring portion 62 and a 
hanging portion 64 is attached to the projections 60, 60. 
More specifically described, as shown in FIG. 7, the biasing member 66 
includes a frame member 68 in addition to the spring portion 62 and the 
hanging portion 64. The frame member 68 has a generally U-shaped cross 
section, and includes two leg portions 70, 70 each with a rectangular flat 
shape, and additionally includes a connection portion 72 also with a 
rectangular flat shape for connecting between the two leg portions 70, 70. 
The hanging portion 64 projects a prescribed length from a middle portion 
of one of two long sides of the connection portion 72, in a direction 
parallel to two short sides of the connection portion 72, and the spring 
portion 62 projects along the leg portions 70 from a middle portion of the 
other long side of the connection portion 72, in a direction perpendicular 
to the short sides of the connection portion 72. The spring and hanging 
portions 62, 64 are integrally formed with the leg and connection portions 
70, 72, i.e., the frame member 68. 
Thus, the biasing member 66 includes the hanging portion 64 projecting 
substantially horizontally as seen in FIG. 7, and the spring portion 62 
projecting vertically downward. A lower end portion of the spring portion 
62 extends into a through-hole 37 formed through the thickness of the 
operational portion 32 of the movable engagement member 28. The two leg 
portions 70 have respective engageable projections 74 which are engageable 
with respective engageable recesses 76 formed in the two projections 60. 
Thus, the biasing member 66 is provided on the inner surface of the lid 
member 14. 
In the garbage container in accordance with the second embodiment shown in 
FIGS. 5-7, the lid member 14 is advantageously hung and held on a body 
member 12 (not shown) with the hanging portion 64 engaging a flange 18 of 
the body member 12. In addition, when a slide member 44 is moved to move 
the movable engagement member 28 in an outward direction of the lid member 
14, i.e., in a direction in which the member 28 is moved toward a 
disengaged position where the member 28 is disengaged from the flange 18 
of the body member 12, the movable member 28 is biased, with a biasing 
force (i.e., elastic force) of the spring portion 62 of the biasing member 
66, in an inward direction of the lid member 14, i.e., in a direction in 
which the member 28 is moved toward an engaged position where the member 
28 is engageable with the flange 18. 
Thus, in the second embodiment, the biasing force of the spring portion 62 
of the biasing member 66 is advantageously utilized to maintain the hook 
portion 31 of the movable engagement member 28 in stable engagement with 
the flange 18 of the body member 12. In addition, the second embodiment 
enjoys the same advantages as those with the first embodiment shown in 
FIGS. 1-4. 
While the present invention has been described in its preferred 
embodiments, the invention may otherwise be embodied. 
For example, while in the illustrated embodiments the fixed and movable 
engagement members 26, 28 are provided at the respective positions on the 
peripheral portion of the lid member 14 which are symmetrical with each 
other with respect to the center of the lid member 14, and are engageable 
with the flange 18 of the body member 12, it is possible to provide, on 
the body member 12, two engageable members which are engageable with the 
lid member 14. Otherwise, it is possible to provide, on the lid member 14, 
one engageable member which is engageable with the body member 12 and 
provide, on the body member 12, another engageable member which is 
engageable with the lid member 14. Furthermore, the two engageable members 
may be provided at respective positions other than the symmetrical 
positions, on the lid member 14 or the body member 12. 
Although in the illustrated embodiments the two engageable members 26, 28 
are used, it is possible to employ a different number of engageable 
members. 
While in the illustrated embodiments the movable engagement member 28 is 
movable between the engaged position where the member 28 is engaged with 
the body member 12 and the disengaged position where the member 28 is 
disengaged from the body member 12. However, the movable engagement member 
28 may be replaced by an engageable member which is displaceable (e.g., 
rotatable) between an engaged and a disengaged position. 
In the illustrated embodiments, the fixed engagement member 26 is fixed in 
position with the vises to the outer or upper surface of the lid member 
14. However, the engagement member 26 may be fixed in a different manner. 
For example, an engagement member may be adhered with an adhesive to the 
lid member 14 or the body member 12, or may be formed integrally with the 
lid or body member 14, 12. 
While in the illustrated embodiments the fixed engagement member 26 is 
provided by the hook member 30 and the movable engagement member 28 
includes the hook portion 31 and the operational portion 32, it is 
possible to employ, in place of the engagement members 26, 28, engageable 
members having shapes and structures other than those of the engagement 
members 26, 28, so long as the engageable members being engaged with the 
body member 12 can effectively prevent the lid member 14 from freely 
separating from the body member 12. 
Although in the illustrated embodiments the slide member 44 is connected 
with the vis to the operational portion 32 of the movable engagement 
member 28, it is possible to connect the slide member 44 to the 
operational portion 32 in a different manner. For example, the slide 
member 44 may be adhered to the operational portion 32. Otherwise, the 
operational portion 32 of the movable engagement member 28 may be provided 
with a projection which projects toward the slide member 44, and the slide 
member 44 may have a recess in which the projection of the operational 
portion 32 fits. In the last case, a projection may be provided on the 
slide member 44 and a recess may be formed in the movable member 28. In 
each case, the slide member 44 is connected to the movable member 28. 
In the illustrated embodiments, the slide member 44 as the operable member 
is movable in the outward direction of the lid member 14 and, as the slide 
member 44 is moved in that direction, the movable engagement member 28 is 
moved in the same direction to project outward over the outer peripheral 
edge of the lid member 14. However, it is possible to employ, in place of 
the slide member 44, an operable member which has a structure other than 
that of the slide member 44, so long as the operable member can cause a 
movable or displaceable engagement member to move or displace between an 
engaged and a disengaged position. For example, it is possible to employ 
an operable member which extends through a hole formed through the 
thickness of the lid member 14, is movable vertically through the hole, 
and has a lower end surface which is inclined or curved downward in a 
direction away from the movable engagement member 28 and is held in 
contact with an end face of the operational portion 32 of the movable 
engagement member 28. Thus, the operable member and the movable member 28 
cooperate with each other to provide a cam mechanism which ensures that 
when the operable member is moved downward, the movable engagement member 
28 is moved a prescribed distance over the outer peripheral edge of the 
lid member 14. In the last case, it is preferred to additionally employ a 
biasing device which biases the operable member in an upward direction. 
Thus, the operability of the operable member and accordingly the ease of 
use of the garbage container as a whole are much improved. 
Although in the illustrated embodiments the resin-based sheet-like spring 
42 or the spring portion 62 is employed as the biasing device which 
applies the biasing force to the movable engagement member 28 in the 
direction in which the member 28 is moved toward the engaged position 
where the member 28 is engaged with the flange 18 of the body member 12, 
it is possible to use, in place of the spring 42, 62, any known biasing 
device. For example, the biasing device may be provided by a hydraulic 
system or an air spring in which fluid pressure is utilized, a natural or 
synthetic rubber in which rubber elastic characteristic is utilized, or a 
metal spring such as a coil spring. 
The biasing device may be used in a different way from the way employed in 
the first or second embodiment. 
In the illustrated embodiments the respective lower surfaces of the hook 
member and portion 30, 31 of the fixed and movable engagement members 26, 
28 are provided by the guide surfaces 48, 48 that are inclined downward in 
the outward direction of the lid member 14. The angle of inclination of 
the guide surfaces 48 is not limited. It is preferred that the angle of 
inclination of the guide surfaces 48 fall in the range of 20 to 25 
degrees. However, the guide surfaces 48 are not essential and may be 
omitted. 
While each of the first and second embodiments relates to a box-like 
garbage container having a generally rectangular cross section and formed 
of a synthetic resin, the principle of the present invention may 
advantageously be applied to other sorts of garbage containers that have 
other shapes and/or are formed of other materials, e.g. a cylindrical 
garbage container or a metallic garbage container. 
It is to be understood that the present invention may be embodied with 
other changes, improvements, and modifications that may occur to those 
skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the 
invention defined in the appended claims.