Abstract:
A wastebasket is easily constructed by an end user from a pair of side panels which are joined to form a sleeve, and a base and a rim which have circumferential grooves that receive the bottom and top edges of the sleeve. Snap connectors are inserted through the base and rim to maintain the parts in their assembled condition.

Description:
[0001]    This application claims benefit from provisional U.S. patent application No. 60/774248, filed Feb. 17, 2006. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention relates to containers, and more particularly to an easy to assemble wastebasket. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    An object of the invention is provide a wastebasket kit which can be shipped by the manufacturer in an essentially flat condition. 
         [0004]    Another object is to provide a wastebasket kit which can be easily and quickly assembled into a wastebasket without special skills or tools. 
         [0005]    A further object is to provide a durable wastebasket having no metal parts. A related object is to construct a wastebasket from polymeric material which can be printed with lettering, decoration and logos. 
         [0006]    These and other objects are attained by a easy to assemble wastebasket as described below. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    In the accompanying drawings, 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  shows the major components of a wastebasket kit; 
           [0009]      FIGS. 2-5  shows the component parts being assembled; 
           [0010]      FIG. 6  is an isometric view of the base of the wastebasket; 
           [0011]      FIG. 7  is a top plan view thereof; 
           [0012]      FIG. 8  is a sectional view taken on the line  8 - 8  in  FIG. 7 ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 9  is an isometric view of the top rim of the wastebasket; 
           [0014]      FIG. 10  is a bottom plan view thereof; 
           [0015]      FIG. 11  is a sectional view taken on the line  11 - 11  in  FIG. 10 ; and 
           [0016]      FIG. 12  is an isometric view of a snap fastener component shown in  FIG. 1   
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0017]    A wastebasket kit embodying the invention includes two side panels  10 , 12 , a base  14 , a rim  16 , and four snap connectors  18 . The parts are shown unassembled in  FIG. 1 , and being assembled in  FIGS. 2-5 . Note the holes  20  punched from the panels near their edges. Each panel has a series of aligned slots  22  parallel to and near one edge of the panel, and a series of tabs  24  formed in the opposite edge of the panel. The tabs are sized to be inserted into the respective slots. At least one of the tabs (e.g., the center one) has barbs  26  whose span is slightly greater than the slot width so that they have to lightly forced into the slot and thereafter retain the parts in an assembled condition. 
         [0018]      FIGS. 6-8  show the base  14  of the wastebasket, which is generally circular and has an upwardly extending outer flange  28  which, with the opposing interior flange  30 , defines a circumferential groove  32  adapted to receive the bottom edges  34  of the assembled side panels.  FIG. 7  shows the base from above. The perspective view ( FIG. 6 ) of the base shows apertures  36  designed to receive the heads of the snap connectors  18  so that they sit flush once installed. 
         [0019]      FIGS. 9-11  illustrate the upper rim  16 . The rim has a downwardly extending outer flange  40  and an inner flange  42  which define a circumferential groove  44  adapted to receive the top edges  46  of the assembled side panels. Apertures  48  like those in the base are formed in the rim to receive snap connectors  18  as well. 
         [0020]      FIG. 12  shows a single snap connector  18  in detail. It has a round head  50  with two parallel tangs  52 ,  54  extending from one side thereof. Each tang has a barb  56 ; these face away from one another, so they catch against the sides of a hole  20  when the barbs are pressed through the hole, thereafter resisting removal of the snap connector. 
         [0021]    Returning to  FIGS. 2-5 , one assembles the wastebasket by first inserting the tabs  24  of each side panel  10 ,  12  into corresponding slots  22  in the other side panel, so as to form a sleeve ( FIG. 2 ). The assembled sleeve “S” is pressed down onto the base  14 , seating the bottom edges  34  of the panels in the circumferential groove  32  ( FIG. 3 ). Next, the rim is pressed down onto the sleeve so that the top edges  44  of the panels seat in the circumferential groove  42  in the rim ( FIG. 4 ). Finally, snap connectors  18  are pressed into the apertures  36 ,  46  in the base and the rim, respectively, so that they snap into a locked position penetrating the holes  20  in the panels and fully seated in the apertures, maintaining the wastebasket in its assembled condition. 
         [0022]    The side panels  10 ,  12  are preferably made of durable, stiff, high density polyethylene sheet with a matte finish. This material is extremely durable, printable, and easy to convert. It can be screen printed, making it suitable for a wide variety of graphic applications including sports logos and team names. The preferred thickness range is 0.020 to 0.023 inch. 
         [0023]    The rim and the base are molded from a strong, stiff inexpensive polymeric material. While the rim and base are shown in  FIG. 1  as having identical outside diameters, that need not be the case: a larger rim could be used to produce a frusto-conical wastebasket as suggested by  FIG. 5 . The shapes of the side panels would have to be suitably altered in that event. 
         [0024]    The invention is subject to alteration and modification: for example, the two side panels could be replaced by a single panel which would be bent 360° to form the sleeve. Another alternative would be to have more than two side panels joined to form the sleeve.