Abstract:
Apparatus for enclosing and containing its contents. Apparatus may include a container having wheels and a handle. Apparatus may include a top portion with a retractable cover capable of protecting the contents of the container from weather and other harmful elements.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention generally relates to containers. Particularly, the present invention relates to those containers having a cover capable of protecting articles contained therein from factors such as weather, animals, and spills. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Present containers have basic means for covering articles contained therein. Such coverings offer little protection from natural elements and may lead to loss of contents from wind, mishandling, animals or other factors. Some present containers have coverings that are separable from the container and are therefore susceptible to separation and loss or theft. Other containers have coverings that are attached, but provide minimal protection from the elements. 
         [0003]    Current containers comprise a cover having a roll-top design, a concentrically arranged sliding design, and a hinge design. Such designs offer a small degree of protection from weather and offer a degree of strength that can withstand only minor stress. As such the contents of present containers are prone to weather related damage as well as inadvertent spills and theft. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    In accordance with at least one exemplary embodiment of the invention, a container with a protective cover that may optionally be used for refuse includes a container having a movable top capable of enclosing contents therein, thereby providing protection from weather, animals, and spills. 
         [0005]    A further exemplary embodiment may provide a handle for sliding the cover, and a mechanism for locking the cover in the closed position. This can act to decrease the risk of theft or handling of the contents by third parties. This can also prevent weather related damage to the contents of the container or spilling of the container&#39;s contents by wind or animals. Yet a further exemplary embodiment may provide for a hingeless design providing for increased strength. Further, a series of flanges may act like shutters when the cover is closed, thereby protecting contents of the container from weather. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]    Further advantages of embodiments of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments thereof, which description should be considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0007]      FIG. 1  shows an exemplary perspective view of a container having a retractable cover in the closed position. 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  shows an exemplary side view of the container of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  shows an exemplary front view of the container of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  shows an exemplary opposite side view of the container of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  shows an exemplary rear view of the container of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0012]      FIG. 6  shows and exemplary bottom view of the container of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0013]      FIG. 7  shows an exemplary top view of the container of  FIG. 1  with a cover in the closed position. 
           [0014]      FIG. 8  shows an exemplary diagrammatical side view of a retractable cover. 
           [0015]      FIG. 9  shows an exemplary bottom view top portion of the container of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0016]      FIG. 10  shows an exemplary top view of a cover member. 
           [0017]      FIG. 11  shows an exemplary front view of a cover member. 
           [0018]      FIG. 12  shows an exemplary perspective view of a cover member. 
           [0019]      FIG. 13  shows an exemplary perspective view of the top portion of the container of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0020]      FIG. 14  shows an exemplary perspective view of a container with retractable cover in a substantially open position. 
           [0021]      FIG. 15  shows an exemplary cross-sectional view of the top portion of the container of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0022]      FIG. 16  shows an exemplary diagrammatical view of an attachment mechanism. 
           [0023]      FIG. 17  shows an exemplary perspective view of the attachment mechanism of  FIG. 16 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0024]    Aspects of the invention are disclosed in the following description and related drawings directed to specific embodiments of the invention. Alternate embodiments may be devised without departing from the spirit or the scope of the invention. Additionally, well-known elements of exemplary embodiments of the invention will not be described in detail or will be omitted so as not to obscure the relevant details of the invention. Further, to facilitate an understanding of the description, discussion of several terms used herein follows. 
         [0025]    The word “exemplary” is used herein to mean “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any embodiment described herein as “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments. Likewise, the term “embodiments of the invention” does not require that all embodiments of the invention include the discussed feature, advantage or mode of operation. 
         [0026]    Referring generally to  FIGS. 1-14 , a trash container with a retractable cover is shown. An exemplary embodiment may include a container  100 , a top portion  102 , a wheelset  106  for transport, a cover  108 , cover members  109 , a handle  110  for moving the container, and a handle  111  for opening and closing cover  108 . In one exemplary embodiment, the lower portion of container  100  may be about 6 to 26 inches wide, but more preferably 16 inches wide. Top portion  102  may be about 10 to 30 inches wide, but preferably 19 inches wide. The top portion of container  100  may be about 10 to 30 inches wide, but preferably 19 inches wide. Container  100  and attached top portion  102  may be about 20 to 40 inches tall, but preferably 35 inches tall. 
         [0027]      FIG. 1  shows an exemplary embodiment of a trash container with retractable cover. One exemplary embodiment may include container  100  with wheelset  106  situated on the bottom portion of container  100  to allow transport. A handle  107  may be positioned on the lower portion of container  100  to accommodate lifting. Top portion  102  may be formed to accommodate slidably mounted cover  108  comprised of cover members  109 . Handle  110  may be formed on the rear of container  100  to allow for transportation of the trash container. Handle  111  may be formed on cover  108  to accommodate positioning of cover  108 . 
         [0028]      FIGS. 2-7  show an exemplary embodiment of a trash container. The trash container may include container  100  having wheelset  106  arranged to provide a transport means. The bottom of container  100  may include a support structure  112  formed distally to wheelset  106  to increase stability of container  100 . Top portion  102  may include cover  108 , which may comprise cover members  109 . Handle  111  may be used to reposition cover  108  to allow for insertion, removal, or covering of the contents of container  100 . Handle  110  may be used to reposition the container. 
         [0029]      FIG. 8  shows an exemplary embodiment of cover  108  and cover members  109 . Cover members  109  may include flanges  206 . One embodiment of cover members  109  may include a hook-shaped member  300  formed on opposing and parallel sides of individual member  109 . Hook-shaped member  300  may be formed to include a distal portion  301  arranged to contact a concave portion of hook-shaped member  300  of an adjacent cover member  109  so as to form a linkage  302  thereby accommodating interlinking of consecutive members  109 . Yet another embodiment of cover member  109  may include an overhang  304 . Cover members  109  may be formed to include an overhang groove  306  capable of accepting and appropriately positioned to accept overhang  304 . Cover  108  may be arranged so that when in the closed position, overhang  304  is accepted by overhang groove  306 , and cover  108  creates a substantially sealed container thereby protecting contents of the container from weather and outside elements. 
         [0030]      FIG. 9  shows a bottom view of an exemplary embodiment of top portion  102 . A vertical portion  203  of top portion  102  may be formed to include drainage holes  204 . In one exemplary embodiment, drainage holes  204  may be formed in both vertical portion  203  and the horizontal portion of top portion  102 . 
         [0031]      FIGS. 10-12  show an exemplary embodiment of cover member  109 . Cover member  109  may include a first hook member  300  positioned on a first end of member  109  parallel to an inverted second hook member  300  formed on an opposing second end of member  109 . This allows interlocking with hook member  300  of an adjacent cover member  109 . Cover member  109  may also include a flange  206 . 
         [0032]      FIG. 13  shows an exemplary embodiment of top portion  102 . Top portion  102  may include inwardly facing grooves  400  wherein cover  108  may be slidably mounted. Grooves  400  may be formed to accommodate flanges  206 . One embodiment of top portion  102  may include vertical portion  203  formed from top portion  102  wherein cover  108  may be position when retracted. A further exemplary embodiment may include flanges attached to grooves  400  that act upon cover  108  when closed so as to require applied pressure to reposition cover  108  to a substantially open position. 
         [0033]      FIG. 14  shows one exemplary embodiment of a trash container with retractable cover, which may include container  100  having top portion  102 , which forms an opening for container  100 . Container  100  may include a handle joined to the rear of container  100  for transport or relocation. Top portion  102  may include inwardly facing parallel grooves  400  wherein cover  108  may be slidably mounted. Flanges mounted within grooves  400  may be constructed to act upon cover  108  thereby fastening cover  108  in the closed position. 
         [0034]      FIG. 15  shows an exemplary embodiment of top portion  102 . Flanges  206  of cover members  109  may be positioned in grooves  400  so as to allow water to flow into a drainage canal  500 . In one exemplary embodiment, drainage canal  500  may be constructed to guide water to efflux from drainage holes  204 . 
         [0035]      FIGS. 16-17  show an exemplary embodiment of a fastener assembly  600 . One or more fasteners  600  may be situated to interface with top portion  102  and container  100  thereby fastening top portion  102  to container  100 . In one exemplary embodiment, a female fastener  602  attached to container  100  may be arranged to accommodate receipt of a male fastener  604  attached to top portion  102  thereby fastening top portion  102  to container  100 . This arrangement can accommodate shipment of the container in separate components for subsequent assembly. 
         [0036]    The foregoing description and accompanying drawings illustrate the principles, preferred embodiments and modes of operation of the invention. However, the invention should not be construed as being limited to the particular embodiments discussed above. Additional variations of the embodiments discussed above will be appreciated by those skilled in the art. 
         [0037]    Therefore, the above-described embodiments should be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive. Accordingly, it should be appreciated that variations to those embodiments can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.