Trash collector

A trash collector, including a bucket 1 and a lid 4, which covers the bucket and is fastened pivotally in the area of an upper brim of the bucket, in order to pivot it upwards to open the trash collector. A pedal arrangement 3, 20 is arranged in the area of a base of the bucket, and a lever arrangement 8, 12 connects the pedal arrangement to the lid in order to pivot open the lid by a motion of the pedal arrangement. The lid is embodied in several parts and has at least two lid sections 5, which are each pivotable about as separate axis 30, 30′, and a frame element 6, which is provided detachably and/or pivotally in the area of the upper brim of the bucket and to which the lid sections 5 are fastened in a pivotal fashion.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

The following documents are incorporated herein by reference as if fully set forth: European Patent Application No. EP 15 150 519.5, filed Jan. 8, 2015.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to a trash collector. Such a trash collector comprises a bucket and a lid as well as a pedal arrangement and a lever arrangement. The lid covers the bucket and is fastened in a pivotal fashion in the area of the upper brim of the bucket in order to pivot it upwards to open the trash collector. The pedal arrangement is arranged near the bottom of the bucket and is connected via the lever arrangement to the lid, in order to pivot the lid by a motion of the pedal arrangement.

Trash collectors of this type have been known for quite some time in various embodiments. By stepping onto the pedal the lid is pivoted upwards via the lever arrangement in order to open the trash collector. Upon release of the pedal the lid flips downwards automatically, usually due to gravity, so that the bucket of the trash collector receiving the refuse is covered again and thus the trash collector is closed once more.

Commonly such a trash collector exhibits a cover to which the pedal arrangement, the lever arrangement, and the lid are fastened, and which receives a bucket, that can be separately removed. In order to discard the refuse, the bucket can therefore be separated from the cover, the lid, and particularly the pedal arrangement and the lever arrangement.

Trash collectors of the prior art with a lid, pivotal upon a pedal being pressed, have the problem that with increasing volume of the trash collector and accordingly increasing lid area the lid becomes heavier and heavier and thus the lever arrangement must transfer appropriately large forces. This results in respective requirements for the stability of the pedal arrangement, the lever arrangement, and the bearings for the movable parts thereof.

In order to avoid this problem, it is known for example from DE 203 05 521 U1 to provide a trash collector of the type mentioned at the outset with a multi-part lid, which exhibits two lid sections, each of which pivotal about a separate axis. The lever arrangement essentially comprises two push rods, which are jointly fastened to a pedal arrangement and mounted with their upper ends in an articulate fashion to the lid sections such that these are pivoted upwards upon operation of the pedal. Here, each lid section is pivoted upwards and to the side about a separate pivotal axis in order to release the opening of the bucket.

The two lid sections of the trash collector according to prior art are fastened pivotally to the upper brim of an encasement, which receives the lever arrangement and a bucket, which can be separately removed, as well as the pedal arrangement. When the lid sections are completely opened, the separate bucket can be removed in order to discard the collected trash. Due to the fact that here it is necessary to pivot the two lid sections by at least 90°, so that the horizontal projection area of the bucket is completely released, return springs are provided within the lever arrangement, which ensure that the lid sections automatically and independent from gravity fold shut when the pedal is not actuated. This return motion must be braked by a damper element, in order to cushion the spring forces of the return springs, acting in addition to gravity.

For reasons of cost efficiency it is however not advantageous to embody the trash collector with a double wall, thus providing an encasement, which receives a separately removable bucket, particularly since in a large volume trash collector the bucket generally must be lined by the user with a trash bag, which can be removed from the bucket for discarding the collected trash. In particular in case of a cost-effective production of the trash collector from plastic, particularly preferred within the scope of the present invention, the double-walled embodiment leads to significantly higher material costs as well as the need for a separate production of the individual parts, with corresponding higher expenses.

SUMMARY

The present invention is therefore based on the objective to further develop a trash collector of the type mentioned at the outset such that a separately removable bucket can be omitted.

This objective is attained in a trash collector having one or more features of the invention. Preferred embodiments and further developments of the trash collector according to the invention are described below and in the claims.

The trash collector embodied according to the present invention is therefore provided with a modified lid, which in addition to at least two lid sections comprises a frame element, which is fastened in a detachable and/or pivotal fashion in the area of the upper brim of the bucket, and with the lid sections being pivotally fastened thereon.

By this modification of the lid, the lid sections can be pivoted or removed completely from the upper brim of the bucket so that the horizontal projection area of the bucket is then also completely released, when no separately removable bucket is provided. Additionally, within the scope of the present invention it is also possible to provide the trash collector with a separately removable bucket and an encasement that receives it. In any case, the lid sections with their hinges can be pivoted off and/or removed with their hinges from the upper brim of the bucket so that the handling of a trash bag and/or the removal of a separately removable bucket is not hindered even if the lid sections can be pivoted open by angles that are slightly less than 90 degrees, so that gravity ensures for an automatic folding shut of the lid sections without requiring any return mechanism.

Preferably the lever arrangement of the trash collector according to the invention comprises a distribution element for distributing a motion of the pedal arrangement to the individual lid sections, with the distribution element for each lid section having a support arm, extending upwards, and including a bearing site, open towards the top, for receiving a support element of the lid section.

The distribution element allows that the lever arrangement not necessarily requires separate push rods for each lid section, arranged at the pedal arrangement with the appropriate space needed. Such a space is normally only available between a separately removable bucket and a cover, so that the distribution element additionally contributes that the trash collector according to the invention requires no separately removable bucket.

The support arms of the distribution element are equipped with bearing sites, open towards the top, in order to allow that the support elements of the lid sections received in the bearing sites, together with the frame element according to the invention, can be lifted upwards or pivoted away without requiring that the support arms are entrained in a motion not provided for them. According to this preferred embodiment of the present invention therefore the support elements of the lid sections and the support arms can easily be separated from each other in order to allow removing and/or pivoting open the frame element together with the lid sections carried thereby.

Here it is particularly preferred for the bearing sites of the support arms and/or the support elements of the lid sections to be provided with control areas, along which the support arms and the support elements can be moved in reference to each other. This occurs during the pivoting of the lid sections, because here a circular motion of the support element coincides with a linear motion of the support arm. In an articulate arrangement, as common in prior art, the support arm had to be mobile in the literal direction like a con rod. The preferred further development of the present invention with control areas at the bearing sites and/or at the support elements allows therefore to embody the support arms in a stiff and only vertically mobile fashion, which simplifies both the guidance of the support arms, the distribution element, and the entire lever arrangement, and also renders the connection between the lever arrangement and the pedal arrangement less expensive.

Here, a further preferred embodiment of the trash collector according to the invention shows a shape of at least one of the control areas preferably provided such that the corresponding lid section pivots open and/or shut at a minor time lag in reference to the other lid sections and/or in reference to the other lid section. This ensures that the edges of the lid sections during the shutting process cannot contact each other and that when pivoting open as well as shutting better pressure compensation occurs between the interior of the trash collector and the environment.

As known per se, it is beneficial within the scope of the present invention that the lever arrangement and/or the pedal arrangement and/or the lid are provided with a damper element, in order to cushion the shutting motion of the lid and/or any shutting motion of the lid sections.

Particularly preferred, the lid of the trash collector according to the invention comprises essentially a frame element and two lid sections pivotally fastened thereto, with the distribution element essentially being formed by a lateral brace and two cantilevers extending therefrom upwards, provided with bearing sites open towards the top for pivoting open the lid sections. This allows a particularly simple design, yet simultaneously stable construction of the lever arrangement.

Preferably, here the distribution element is arranged in a rear upper section of the trash collector, with it being effectively connected via a central push rod to the pedal arrangement. These central push rods may also be fastened to a trash collector, with its bucket simultaneously forming the exterior casing of the trash collector, which therefore is not equipped with a separately removable bucket and a then appropriately necessary encasement, particularly since in this preferred embodiment of the distribution element and the preferred loose support of the lid sections on the support arms both the push rod as well as the distribution element only need to be held movable in the vertical direction.

According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention the distribution element of the lever arrangement is provided with a locking device, which locks the support arms in a raised position in order to prevent the shutting of the trash collector. This way, work including the repeated tossing of trash into the bucket, such as when preparing food, can be performed with an open trash collector, without this requiring that the pedal is permanently activated. This also facilitates the removal of for example a trash bag used inside the trash collector for discarding the entire refuse collected, with however the pivoting open or removal of the frame element including the lid sections fastened thereto, possible according to the invention, representing the preferred method for providing access to the content of the bucket.

To the extent the distribution element is arranged in the rear upper section of the trash collector, it is preferred for the locking mechanism to comprise a handle and a hook element at the lateral brace of the distribution element, whereby the hook element can be suspended in a counter support at a rear of the trash collector and can be unhooked therefrom. The handle is preferably accessible as soon as the lid sections are pivoted open so that then the hook element can be suspended in the counter support, in order to prevent the lid sections from shutting by the support arms remaining in their raised position. Here, the hook element can be suspended in the counter support and disconnected therefrom by tipping the distribution element. When the trash collector according to the invention, which is preferred here, is made essentially from plastic the distribution element is generally elastically deformable to a slight extent so that the suspension and the disconnection of the hook element as well as particularly any tipping of the distribution element can be performed without any additional constructive expense, merely by a slight elastic deformation.

In order to ensure in any case that even lid sections pivoted completely open can automatically shut without any return mechanism, merely based on gravity when the pedal is not activated, it is preferred that in the area of the pivotal support of the lid sections, at the frame element and/or at an upper brim of the bucket, spring-elastic stop elements are provided in order to pivot open lid sections, when the pedal is not activated, to such an extent until they automatically shut due to gravity. Such spring-elastic stop elements then also allow pivoting of the lid sections by an angle of up to 90 degrees or more without here requiring that a return mechanism be provided.

When the bucket of the trash collector according to the invention, as possible by the present invention, simultaneously forms the exterior casing of the trash collector, thus no additional encasement being provided, the bucket is provided at its upper brim preferably with a circumferential collar and the frame element is preferably embodied as an annual fitting which rests on the collar of the bucket. The embodiment of the frame element as an annular fitting ensures a clean upper section of the bucket and offers space at its rear section for the lifting mechanism of the lid sections.

The preferably provided central push rod, connected to a distribution element comprising a lateral brace and two support arms, extends in this case preferably in a groove at a rear exterior of the bucket and is guided via a passage in the area of the upper brim of the bucket into said bucket, with the lateral brace of the distribution element being fastened at the push rod. This fastening may be selected with such stability that the distribution element is indirectly guided at the passage via the push rod which is generally made from metal, and thus it requires no additional guidance. Simultaneously the frame element is preferably provided with a flare extending into the interior of the bucket, which at least covers the lateral brace of the distribution element towards the inside so that the lever arrangement is neither visible to the user nor is there any risk that trash tossed into the trash collector comes into contact with the lever arrangement. Additionally, any contact of a trash bag inserted into the bucket with moving parts of the lever arrangement is excluded thereby. The frame element is here provided with openings for the support arms of the distribution element so that they are guided from the interior of the bucket back to the outside and can contact the lid sections.

Finally, it is preferred within the scope of the present invention that in the area of the upper brim of the bucket, inside the trash collector, removable spring bars are inserted for fixing the trash bag. They may also prevent any slippage of the trash bag into the interior of the bucket when the trash bag, as regularly the case for relatively large-volume trash collectors, is filled with a relatively heavy content. The spring bars may here be fastened at the upper brim of the bucket, particularly when it simultaneously forms the exterior casing of the trash collector. However, they may also be fastened outside the bucket, for example at the upper brim of a cover or at the frame element.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The trash collector shown inFIGS. 1 to 3in a closed state (FIG. 1), opened state (FIG. 2), and/or completely opened state (FIG. 3) in a comprehensive view comprises a bucket1, which simultaneously forms the exterior casing of the trash collector, a base part2with a pedal3, as well as a lid4, having two lid sections5, which cover the bucket1and are fastened in a pivotal fashion to a frame element6formed as an annular fitting.

FIG. 1shows the trash collector in the completely closed state. The frame element6rests on the upper brim of the bucket1and the lid sections5are closed, so that these three components forming the lid4completely cover the top of the bucket1in its entirety.

By actuating the pedal3the lid sections5are pivoted open, as illustrated inFIG. 2. Each of the two lid sections5is fastened to the frame element6, pivotal by a separate hinge, with the pivotal axes30,30′ about which the two lid sections5are pivoted open, that are arranged parallel, however they are not identical. Each of the two lid sections5comprises an area, which is approximately equivalent to half the lid area so that the lid sections5can appropriately easily be pivoted open by activating the pedal3; due to the short extension of the lid sections the lever action, which amplifies both the weight force as well as the air resistance of the lid sections5, is advantageously limited.

In addition to the normal opening of the trash collector by a pressed pedal, as shown inFIG. 2, the entire lid4can be pivoted away from the upper brim of the bucket1. This is illustrated inFIG. 3: Here, the frame element6, which in the closed state rests on a circumferential collar7at the upper brim of the bucket1, can pivot away towards the rear at a hinge fastened at the upper rear brim of the bucket1. Due to the fact that the two lid sections5are fastened to the frame element6, they are pivoted away together with the frame element6so that the upper brim of the bucket1is completely released.

This way, a distribution element8is also visible with a lateral brace9and two support arms10as well as a handle11, resting on a push rod12. This is described in greater detail in the following.

As discernible fromFIG. 4, the push rod12is arranged at the rear of the bucket1in a groove13at a rear exterior of the bucket1and guided, on the one side, in a guiding clip15at the base part2, and on the other side, in a penetration14in the area of the upper brim of the bucket1so that upon activating the pedal3, effectively connected to the push rod12, it can be vertically moved. A vertical upwards motion leads to the distribution element8, fastened on the push rod12, moving upwards and the support arms10being propelled upwards in order to pivot open the lid sections5(FIGS. 3, 2).

FIG. 5shows in an exploded illustration the individual parts of the trash collector ofFIGS. 1 to 4, which except for the push rod12are made from injection-molded plastic. The base part2comprises at the bottom a base element16and at the top latching elements17for the bucket1. Bearing seats19for the pedal3are provided in a recess18, which is a part of the pedal lever20. The pedal lever20has an axis21, the pedal3, and an actuating lever22, in which the push rod12is inserted. The entire pedal lever20comprises an injection-molded part cast in one piece. Both hemispheres23of the bearing complete, together with the bearing seat19, the bearing for the pedal lever20. A damper element24acts upon the pedal lever20, as explained in greater detail in the following.

The distribution element8, the frame element6, and the two lid sections5are provided at the top of the bucket1. In the assembled state, the distribution element8rests on the push rod12and ensures via the two support arms10that during the operation of the pedal3, which results in an upwards motion of the actuator lever22of the pedal lever20and thus to an upwards motion of the push rod12, that the lid sections5, which rest in the frame element6in a pivotal fashion, are pivoted open towards the top. The downwards motion of the push rod12is braked by the damper element24, which acts upon the pedal lever20such that the lid sections5close in a cushioned fashion.

The functionality of the pedal lever20is illustrated in the cross-sections ofFIGS. 6A and 6B. The pedal lever20with the pedal3, actuator levers22, and axis21are supported pivotally in the bearing seat19of the base part2and the hemispheres23of the bearing such that a downwards motion of the pedal3leads to an upwards motion of the actuator lever22. The push rod12is inserted therein such that ultimately the push rod12is moved upwards when the pedal3is activated, i.e. moved downwards. This state is shown inFIG. 6A.

When the pedal3is released, the weight force of the push rod12and the lid ensures that the actuator lever22is moved back downwards such that the pedal3moves back upwards into the default position shown inFIG. 6B. During this motion a cam25of the pedal lever20approaches the damper element24, which rests in the base part2, causing the downwards motion of the actuator lever22and the push rod to be braked. After the release of the pedal3the lid sections5therefor drop not freely but in a cushioned fashion.

FIG. 7shows a detail of the trash collector opened as inFIG. 2in order to explain in greater detail the cooperation of the distribution element8with the lid sections5. As shown inFIG. 3, the distribution element8rests inside the bucket1, however the frame element6has a flare26extending into the bucket1, which is also discernible inFIGS. 3 and 5, and which covers the distribution element8towards the inside. The support arms10of the distribution element8, with only one being shown here, are guided via openings27through the frame element6, which also applies for the handle11. This way, the support arms10can act upon the lid sections5when the frame element6is placed upon the collar7of the bucket1.

For this purpose the lid sections5each have a support element28, which rests on a bearing site29of the support arm10, open towards the top. Due to the fact that the bearing site29is open towards the top, the frame element6including the two lid sections5, thus the entire lid4, can be pivoted to the back (FIG. 3), with here the support element28lifting out of the bearing sites29.

In order to compensate the different motion paths when the lid sections5are pivoted open, the support arm of the distribution element8moving vertically in a linear fashion, while the support element28of the lid sections5moving in a circular path about the pivotal axis30of the lid section5, the bearing site29is embodied wider than the support element28so that a loose bearing forms, which allows a horizontal relative motion between the support element28and the support arm10.

The other support arm10of the distribution element8, shown in detail inFIG. 8, comprises a control area31which ensures that the pivotal motion of the lid section5is controlled such that it pivots open and shuts with a slight time lag and/or a slowed motion such that the two lid sections5are not pivoting open and shut at precisely the same time, but a slight off-set being given of these two motions, which optimizes the problem of air resistance both during opening as well as closing of the trash collector.

FIG. 9shows the arrangement ofFIG. 7in a cross-section, in order to explain the existing locking option. Via the handle11of the distribution element8, which is guided through an opening27in the frame element6and thus is accessible in spite of the flare26, the distribution element8and with it the push rod12inserted into the distribution system8can be locked in the raised state such that the support arms10remain raised and the lid sections5are locked in the opened state.

For this purpose, a hook element32is formed at the handle11, which can be suspended in a counter support33at the back of the trash collector, which is formed here at the frame element6.FIG. 9shows a situation in which the hook element32engages behind the counter support33and thus locks the distribution element8in the raised position. By a simple raising of the handle11this engagement can be released so that the distribution element8and the push rod12move back downwards in a cushioned fashion, causing the lid sections5to fold shut due to gravity.

As discernible fromFIG. 10, spring-elastic stop elements34are arranged at the frame element6in the area of the hinges of the lid sections5, which ensure that when the support arms10are lowered, the lid sections5are pivoted inwardly at least to such an extent that they automatically pivot shut based on gravity. These stop elements34allow to pivot open the lid section5to such an extent that they would not automatically pivot shut simply based on gravity.

As additionally discernible fromFIG. 10the example illustrated here of the trash collector according to the invention finally shows four spring arms35, by which a trash bag (not shown) in the bucket1can be fastened. These spring bars35rest detachably in recesses36in the frame element6and accordingly they can be pivoted towards the back together with the lid4and/or the frame element6.