HEAVY DUTY TRASH BIN

A trash bin is provided which includes a hollow body having an open end and a closed end, the open end providing access to a cavity. The trash bin may also include a first handle, a second handle, and a third handle. The trash bin may include a foothold disposed at the closed end. The foothold may include a foot recess projecting into the cavity of the hollow body, the foot recess having a bottom step substantially coextensive with a bottom of the closed end of the hollow body. The trash bin may include a first handhold, a second handhold, and a third handhold, each disposed at the closed end and respectively including a first handhold recess, a second handhold recess, and a third handhold recess projecting into the cavity of the hollow body. A method of using the trash bin is also provided.

FIELD

The present technology relates to containers, and more specifically, trash bins.

INTRODUCTION

A major concern for both the home and the workplace is containing and holding waste, refuse, and trash until permanent disposal. Trash bins act as containers for holding trash and other wastes that are produced in any typical home or office. Trash bins are usually made to hold a large amount of refuse and are only emptied periodically. As such, garbage, cardboard, leaves, and branches can accumulate in large quantities causing the trash bin to become heavy and difficult to maneuver.

Trash bins have been improved over the years to make them more user-friendly, sanitary, and easy to maneuver. For example, many trash bins are now provided with wheels to allow the user to easily wheel their trash bin out to the curb for garbage day. Others come with handles on the top of the trash that can allow the user to carry the trash bin.

Certain trash bins, however, still suffer from a number of drawbacks. For example, trash bins full of waste frequently need to be lifted into vehicles. Therefore, although the wheels of the trash bin allow the user to move the trash bin on the ground, they cannot assist the user with lifting the trash bin. Additionally, the handles on the upper portion of the trash bin do not give the user enough leverage to lift the trash bin off the ground with their arms to a height in which the trash bin could be loaded into a vehicle or truck bed. Additionally, due to their light nature, trash bins can be knocked or blown over when they are empty. Therefore, it can be a hassle to load a trash bin with light objects because the trash bin may tip over while in use.

Accordingly, there is a need a for a trash bin with one or more handholds and footholds that can allow a user to hold the trash bin in place as well as lift the trash bin with the assistance of their hand or foot.

SUMMARY

In concordance with the instant disclosure, a trash bin with one or more handholds and/or footholds that can allow a user to lift the trash bin with the assistance of their hand or foot, has surprisingly been discovered.

In one embodiment, a trash bin is provided. The trash bin may include a hollow body defining a cavity configured to receive waste. The hollow body may have an open end and a closed end. The trash bin may also include a first handle, a second handle, and a third handle, each disposed at the open end. The trash bin may include a foothold disposed at the closed end. The foothold may include a foot recess projecting into the cavity of the hollow body such that the foot recess may have a bottom step with a textured bottom surface. The trash bin may also include a first handhold, a second handhold, and a third handhold. Each of the first handhold, the second handhold, and the third handhold may be disposed at the closed end. The first handhold may include a first handhold recess, the second handhold may include a second handhold recess, and the third handhold may include a third handhold recess, each of the first handhold recess, the second handhold recess, and the third handhold recess projecting into the cavity of the hollow body. The first handhold, the second handhold, and the third handhold may each include a textured upper surface as well to provide additional support when gripping the respective handholds for lifting the trash bin. In another embodiment, the trash bin may also include a wheel well configured to receive a plurality of wheels via a pair of holes and an axle for easily transporting the trash bin to a desired location.

The trash bin can include additional aspects. For example, the trash bin can be provided with a flat end to allow the trash bin to rest flat against a surface. Ways of using the trash bin are also provided, which may include disposing waste and debris into the open end of the hollow body. The trash bin can be held down via the foothold to dispose waste and debris into the open end, or alternatively, the trash bin can be lifted via one of the first handhold, the second handhold, or the third handhold and one of the first handle, the second handle, or the third handle to dispose of the waste from the cavity of the hollow body.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present technology relates to a trash bin100shown generally in accompanyingFIGS.1-11. Advantageously, the trash bin100may be easily held down via the foothold116to dispose of waste or debris into the cavity104of the trash bin100. Desirably, the trash bin100may be lifted using one of the first handhold121, the second handhold122, or the third handhold123and one of the first handle110, the second handle112, or the third handle114to move the trash bin100to a desired location. A method of using the trash bin100is also provided.

An embodiment of a trash bin constructed in accordance with the present disclosure is shown at100inFIGS.1-11. Generally, the trash bin100may include a hollow body102defining a cavity104with an open end106and a closed end108. The trash bin100may also include a first handle110, a second handle112, and a third handle114, each may be disposed at the open end106. The trash bin100may also include a foothold116disposed on the closed end108. The trash bin100may include a first handhold121, a second handhold122, and a third handhold123, each disposed at the closed end108.

With particular reference toFIGS.1-4, the first handle110and the second handle112may include the following aspects. The second handle112may be disposed opposite the first handle110. The first handle110and the second handle112may include a bar130disposed between a first end wall132and a second end wall134. The first end wall132and the second end wall134may be coupled to an outside surface103of the hollow body102. The bar130may include a textured outer surface136. Advantageously, the textured outer surface136provides additional grip when the user is holding the first handle110or the second handle112to lift or maneuver the trash bin100.

The third handle114may include the following aspects. The third handle114may be disposed between the first handle110and the second handle112. The third handle114may also include a central bar138, as shown inFIGS.1and3. The central bar138may be substantially tubular in shape. One of ordinary skill in the art may select a suitable central bar138within the scope of the present disclosure. With reference toFIGS.1and5, the third handle114and the central bar138may be disposed above the open end106of the hollow body102. The central bar138may be coupled to the outside surface103of the hollow body102via curved support bars connecting the central bar138of the third handle114to the hollow body102of the trash bin100. As shown inFIGS.1-6and10-11, there may be three curved support bars coupling the central bar138of the third handle114to the hollow body102. One of ordinary skill in the art may select a suitable number of curved support bars to couple the third handle114to the hollow body102within the scope of the present disclosure. Desirably, the third handle114may be used to easily roll the trash bin100to a desired location with the help of the wheels144, as further described herein.

With particular reference toFIGS.1,5, and8, the foothold116may include the following aspects. The foothold116may include a foot recess118projecting into the cavity104of the hollow body102. The foot recess118may have a bottom step120substantially coextensive with a bottom109of the closed end108of the hollow body102. The foothold116may include a textured bottom surface119. More specifically, the bottom step120may include a textured bottom surface119. The textured bottom surface119may be in the form of parallel ridges. One of ordinary skill in the art may select a suitable textured bottom surface119within the scope of the present disclosure. The foothold116may further be rectangular in shape to allow a user to position a portion of their foot within the foot recess118. Advantageously, this provides a means for the user to hold the trash bin100in place while loading the trash bin100with waste or debris. Additionally, the textured bottom surface119provides additional grip to hold the trash bin100down via the foothold116.

The first handhold121and second handhold122may include the following aspects. The first handhold121and the second handhold122may be disposed at the closed end108of the hollow body102, as shown inFIGS.1-2and4-9. The first handhold121may be disposed parallel to and opposite of the second handhold122on the closed end108of the hollow body102. The first handhold121may include a first handhold recess124and the second handhold122may include a second handhold recess125. Each of the first handhold recess124and the second handhold recess125may project into the cavity104of the hollow body102and may further be defined by a first sidewall127and a second sidewall129coextensive with the hollow body102of the trash bin100. The first handhold121and the second handhold122may each respectively include a textured upper surface128a,128band may further each respectively include a finger cavity140a,140b. The first handhold121may be disposed closer to the closed end108than the finger cavity140aand the second handhold122may be disposed closer to the closed end108than the finger cavity140b. Advantageously, the finger cavities140a,140ballow the user to grip the first handhold121or the second handhold122by placing a portion of their hand on the respective textured upper surface128a,128bwhich helps with grip while further disposing their fingers in the respective finger cavity140a,140bfor added support and grip when lifting the trash bin100.

With reference toFIGS.2,4,6, and9, the third handhold123may include the following aspects. The third handhold123may be disposed on the closed end108of the hollow body102. The third handhold123may include a third handhold recess126projecting into the cavity104of the hollow body102. The third handhold123may include a textured upper surface128c. The textured upper surface128cmay include a plurality of ridges. One of ordinary skill in the art may select a suitable textured upper surface128cwithin the scope of the present disclosure. Advantageously, the textured upper surface128cprovides additional grip to the palm of the user. Additionally, the user may comfortably dispose their fingers in the third handhold recess126when utilizing the third handhold123. The third handhold123may be disposed perpendicular to the first handhold121and the second handhold122and parallel to the third handle114. Desirably, the third handhold123may be used in conjunction with the third handle114when lifting the trash bin100.

The trash bin100can be used in various ways. As a non-limiting example, a user may lift the trash bin100via one hand gripping the first handle110and the other hand gripping the first handhold121, or one hand gripping the second handle112and the other hand gripping the second handhold122, or one hand gripping the third handle114and the other hand gripping the third handhold123. Advantageously, the first handle110may work in conjunction with the first handhold121and vice versa because each feature is disposed on opposite ends of the trash bin100relative to each other such that this arrangement allows the user to comfortably grip the first handle110and the first handhold121to lift the trash bin100. What is more, the second handle112may work in conjunction with the second handhold122as these features can also be disposed on opposite ends of the trash bin100relative to each other. Further, the third handle114may work in conjunction with the third handhold123as these features can also be disposed opposite on opposite ends of the trash bin100relative to each other. A distance between the first handle110and the first handhold121may be substantially equal to a distance between the second handle112and the second handhold122, as a non-limiting example.

Certain embodiments of the trash bin100may include the following aspects, as shown with particular reference toFIGS.2,7, and9-11. The trash bin100may include a wheel well142disposed on the closed end108and projecting into the cavity104of the hollow body102. Two wheel wells142may be configured to each receive a wheel144disposed on an axle148that passes through apertures146. The wheels144may freely rotate without contacting the trash bin100. Desirably, the wheels144may allow for the trash bin100to be easily moved as the user tilts, steers, and pushes/pulls the trash bin100with either one of the first handle110, the second handle112, or the third handle114. One of ordinary skill in the art may select a suitable type and size of wheels144to support the weight of the trash bin100as it is moved, within the scope of the present disclosure.

With reference toFIG.1, the trash bin100may also include a lip150disposed on and circumscribing the open end106. In some embodiments, a removable lid (not shown) may be coupled to the trash bin100via the lip150. The removable lid may be disposed on the lip150to cover the open end106of the trash bin100. The trash bin100may include a plurality of insets152formed on the outside surface103and projecting into the cavity104of the hollow body102, as shown inFIGS.2-3and5-7. Advantageously, the plurality of insets152allow the trash bin100to be cooperatively stacked with another trash bin100.

The trash bin100may also be formed from a solid material. The solid material may allow for the trash bin100to be stable and durable as it experiences different indoor and outdoor conditions and is moved during use. As a non-limiting example, the trash bin100may be formed from various polyolefins and mixtures thereof, including polypropylene and high-density polyethylene (HDPE), and or/polyethylene terephthalate (PET). One of ordinary skill in the art may select other suitable materials for forming the trash bin100within the scope of the present disclosure. The trash bin100may also be formed as a unitary body. More specifically, the trash bin100may be injection molded, producing one continuous and integral body in which each of the components is formed of the same material. As a non-limiting example, the trash bin100may be injection molded and formed by a single piece of plastic or metal, allowing the various portions of the trash bin100to be formed without assembling separate components, including whether components are coupled using fasteners.

In another embodiment of the present disclosure, with reference toFIG.12, a trash bin200is provided. The trash bin200may have a flat end202that does not include two wheel wells142. Rather, the flat end202may be substantially planar and flush and form a resting surface for the trash bin200to sit upright. One of ordinary skill in the art may select a suitable type of bottom for the trash bin200within the scope of the present disclosure. The trash bin200may further include a first foothold204and a second foothold206disposed directly opposite the first foothold204. The trash bin200may also include a first handhold208and a second handhold210disposed parallel and opposite one another. The trash bin200may include a first handle212and a second handle214as well.

FIG.13is a flowchart that describes a method300of using a trash bin100, according to embodiments of the present disclosure. At302, the method may include providing a trash bin100as described hereinabove. At304, the method may include disposing waste into the open end106of the hollow body102. At303, the method may further include the step of holding the trash bin100down via the foothold116to dispose the waste and the debris into the cavity104of the hollow body102. At305, the method provides a step of lifting the trash bin100via one of the first handhold121, the second handhold122, or the third handhold123, and one of the first handle110, the second handle112, or the third handle114to release the waste and the debris out of the cavity104of the hollow body102.

Advantageously, the trash bin100is easily secured and held in place via the foothold116to allow the user to militate against the trash bin100from tipping over or being knocked over when disposing waste and debris into the cavity104. Desirably, the trash bin100also provides an easy and efficient way to lift the trash bin100via the first handhold121, the second handhold122, or the third handhold123to release the waste and debris from the cavity104of the hollow body102. The textured upper surfaces128a,128b, and128cof the handholds help the user grip the handholds when lifting the trash bin100and provides better leverage for lifting the trash bin100to a higher position.