Abstract:
The subject invention relates to a trash can that comprises a base and a liner supported by the base to receive and store trash. A body, supported by the base, houses the liner and a top comprising a support wall supported by the body and two doors rotatably supported by said top support wall, wherein each door is hinged on one side to said support wall. At least one L-shaped bracket is positioned against one top door and connected to the body via a pin. At least one lift rod with a first end operatively connected to each of the L-shaped brackets. A lift bar interfaces with a second end of each of the two lift rods. A pedal mechanically connected to the lift bar moves the lift bar in a downward motion to pull the lift rods down thereby rotating the L-shaped bracket about the pin to extend each L-shaped bracket in an upward motion to open each top door.

Description:
INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE 
       [0001]    This is a continuation of application of U.S. Ser. No. 11/255,418, filed Oct. 20, 2005, entitled “TRASH CAN RESTRICT TOP”, by Jeffrey Kalman, et al., the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Trash containers are conventionally manufactured utilizing various materials such as plastic, aluminum, stainless steel and the like. The size of such containers can vary based on the location and use of the container. For example, a trash container located in a public park may be large and made of heavy material such as stone or cement with a large opening for trash. Alternatively, a trash container in an office may be made of a lightweight material such as plastic and be relatively small in size. 
         [0003]    Due to the nature of the disparate environments in which a trash container is located, features of the trash containers can differ. In one environment, such as a restaurant, a swing top may be preferred whereas in a restroom a lift top lid is appropriate. In addition, the trash container can be stationary (e.g., on legs, flat bottom, etc.) or mobile, such as on wheels, to conveniently locate the trash container as desired. 
         [0004]    Conventional trash containers suffer from several drawbacks such as inefficient mechanisms, short product life, and the like. Such difficulties can be caused by inadequate and/or poor design. What are needed are systems and methods that address shortcomings associated with conventional trash containers and associated trash container features. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    According to one aspect, the subject invention relates to a trash can that comprises a base and a liner supported by the base to receive and store trash. A body, supported by the base, houses the liner and a top comprising a support wall supported by the body and two doors rotatably supported by said top support wall, wherein each door is hinged on one side to said support wall. At least one L-shaped bracket is positioned against one top door and connected to the body via a pin. At least one lift rod with a first end operatively connected to each of the L-shaped brackets. A lift bar interfaces with a second end of each of the two lift rods. A pedal mechanically connected to the lift bar moves the lift bar in a downward motion to pull the lift rods down thereby rotating the L-shaped bracket about the pin to extend each L-shaped bracket in an upward motion to open each top door. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]    The invention may take form in various components and arrangements of components, and in various steps and arrangements of steps. The drawings are only for purposes of illustrating the preferred embodiments and are not to be construed as limiting the invention. 
           [0007]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view, partially cut away, of the trash can that employs a pedal and lift mechanism to open a trash can top, in accordance with an aspect of the subject invention. 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is a detailed view of the pedal and lift mechanism, in accordance with an aspect of the subject invention. 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  shows the lift bars and the L-shaped brackets, in accordance with an aspect of the subject invention. 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  shows a perspective view from the top-rear of the trash can with the liner removed. 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  is a detailed view of the lift bar, damper mechanism and bracket, in accordance with an aspect of the subject invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 6  is a perspective cut-away view of the trash can that illustrates the trim strip and a portion of the working mechanism, in accordance with an aspect of the subject invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0013]      FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of a trash can  10 . The front of the trash can  10  is cut away in  FIG. 1  to display the mechanism for opening the trash can  10 . The trash can  10  comprises a base  12 , a body  14  and a top  16  which are permanently fixed together. The base  12  is employed to support the structure of the trash can  10  and to insure that such support is level. The base  12  is comprised of two side walls oriented substantially in parallel to one another, a rear wall and a front. The base  12  is a molded plastic structure. In order to provide greater support, the side walls of the base can be angled (e.g., 5-30 degrees) outward from the top of the side wall such that the base  12  is flared in relation to the body  14  of the trash can  10 . Each side of the bottom of the base  12  has a middle portion cut-out to provide access to the bottom of the base for cleaning and maintenance and to allow the trash can to sit on uneven surfaces. The base  12  also includes a rear wall (not shown) and a recessed front wall  18  designed to accommodate a pedal  20 . Although the walls of the base  12  have been described separately, it is to be appreciated that the base  12  is a unitary element comprised of a single molded component. The front of the base  12  is flush with the floor to eliminate tipping when the pedal  20  is depressed. In addition, ribs (not shown) provide additional support to the base  12 . 
         [0014]    The body  14  is comprised of four vertical walls that extend upwardly from the walls of the base  12 . The bottom of the body  14  is adjacent to the top of the base providing a smooth continuous appearance. The body  14  is a single unitary element that encloses a trash liner  22  and a motion damper  24  which is coupled to the base  12 . The trash liner  22  can contain a trash bag or other receptacle that receives and stores trash disposed in the trash can  10 . The trash liner  22  is preferably a molded plastic structure. In a preferred embodiment, the trash can body  14  is manufactured of stainless steel. The top and bottom edges of the body  14  are scrolled to create a curved or rolled edge. The bottom edge of the body  14  sits in a recess in the top of the base  12  such that the adjacent exterior surfaces of the body  14  and the base  12  appear seamless. The top edge of the body  14  supports the top  16  of the trash can  10 . 
         [0015]    The trash can top  16  is comprised of a support wall  26  that is coplanar to the trash can body  14 , two doors  28 ,  30  and connecting pieces. The trash can top  16  support wall  26  is typically made of the same or similar material as the trash can base  12  but can be made of various materials as desired. The top of the support wall  26  includes an inner rim  32  angled approximately 45 degrees toward the center of the trash can  10 . A door stop (not shown) is molded into front and back of the support wall  26  at the centerline of the top  16  to provide a resting point for the doors  28 ,  30  when closed. In addition, each side of the top of the support wall  26  contains a recess to accommodate a hinge for a trash can top door  28 ,  30 . As shown, hinge  34  is employed to allow trash can top door  28  to open. 
         [0016]    The trash can top doors  28 ,  30  are coupled to the support wall  26  utilizing a shaft (not shown) mounted along the length of each of the sides of the support wall  26 . Each trash can top door extends from the side of the support wall  26  to the centerline of trash can  10  such that the trash can top doors  28 ,  30  are equal in size. The doors  28 ,  30  are preferably stainless steel and flat (e.g., without a curve in the shape of the door). Plastic or other material may be used for the doors  28 ,  30 . The centerline edge of each trash can top door  28 ,  30  is protected with a molded cover. 
         [0017]    As described in greater detail below, the mechanism to lift the doors  28 , employs fewer components and thus, is simpler and less costly than conventional designs. For example, the mechanism is distinguished from conventional designs that employ an inefficient mechanical implementation wherein a bar extends the length of the trash can (e.g., from front to back) to connect a pedal to a vertical link. Such designs often include a plurality of components including a cushioning element to compensate for such a cumbersome mechanism. It is to be appreciated that the subject invention does not contemplate such a cushioning element to reduce the impact of a pedal bar against the base of a trash can. 
         [0018]    The pedal  20  is coupled to a motion damper  24  to open the trash can top doors  28 ,  30  by elevating the centerline edge of each door  28 ,  30  about the hinge. Extension springs (not shown) can couple the pedal  20  to the base  12  to guide the pedal  20  vertically to return the pedal to the “up” position after the pedal  18  has been depressed. The pedal can have raised features, surface treatment or the like to provide a non-slip surface. Walls  36   a ,  36   b  and  36   c  are molded into the base  12  to prevent the pedal mechanism from being encumbered. 
         [0019]    The motion damper  24  is located directly above the pedal  20  to provide an efficient short stroke implementation. Such a vertically stacked design of the pedal  20  and motion damper  24  minimizes the amount of force to open the doors  28 ,  30  of the trash can  10 . In addition, such an efficient implementation utilizes less material and thus requires less maintenance than conventional designs. The motion damper  24  is located entirely at the front plane of the trash can  10  to provide easy access for maintenance and/or replacement of components. 
         [0020]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the pedal  20  is in an “up” position (not shown) when the trash can top  16  is closed and in a “down” position (shown) when the trash can top  16  is open. Referring to  FIG. 2 , the pedal  20  is rotatably fixed to the base  12  at its forward edge and fixed at its rearward end by tabs  90 ,  92  extending into apertures  94 ,  96  in the base  12 . Two rear tabs  50 ,  52  at the rear of the pedal  20  engage apertures  54 ,  56  in a lift bar  60 . The lift bar  60  comprises an upper segment  60   a , a right vertical segment  60   b  and a left vertical segment  60   c . The vertical segments  60   b ,  60   c  extend downwardly from the ends of the upper segment  60   a . The apertures  54 ,  56  are in the vertical segments  60   b ,  60   c . The lift bar  60  moves up and down as a unit with the rear of the pedal  20 . The lift bar  60  is a unitary metal component. 
         [0021]    The lift bar upper segment  60   a  has a channel shape with a horizontal base  98  and two vertical side walls  100 ,  102 . Two pairs of aligned round holes  104 ,  106 ,  108 ,  110  are provided at each end of the upper segment  60   a . The holes  104 ,  106 ,  108 ,  110  are in the vertical side walls  100 ,  102 . 
         [0022]    Two lift rods  34 ,  36  typically constructed of metal or similar material are coupled to lift bar  60 . Turning to  FIG. 3 , the lift rods  34 ,  36  are identical to one another. Each lift rod  34 ,  36  has a bottom horizontal portion  34   a ,  36   a , a vertical portion  34   b ,  36   b  and a top horizontal portion  34   c ,  36   c . The bottom horizontal portions  34   a ,  36   a  are received in the pairs of round holes  104 ,  106 ,  108 ,  110  in the lift bar upper segment  60   a . The lift rod top horizontal portions are received in round holes  112 ,  114  in the L-shaped brackets  38 ,  40 . Each of the L-shaped brackets  38 ,  40  is attached to the front of the trash can top support wall  26  via a pin  42 ,  44  fastened through holes  116 ,  118  in each L-shaped bracket  34 ,  36 . The L-shaped brackets  38 ,  40  carry pads  46 ,  48  which are in contact with each of the trash can top doors  28 ,  30 . 
         [0023]    Returning to  FIG. 1 , the carry pads  46 ,  48  can be made of any resilient, shock dampening material such as Delrin, for example. In this manner, when the pedal  20  is pushed down, the lift rods  34 ,  36  are pulled down and each L-shaped bracket  38 ,  40  is rotated about the pin  42 ,  44 . In turn, the L-shaped brackets  38 ,  40  are extended upwardly and the pads  46 ,  48  push against and open the trash can top doors  28 ,  30 . It is to be appreciated that the L-shaped brackets  38 ,  40  are adjacent but not attached to the trash can top doors  28 ,  30 . 
         [0024]    Torsion springs  50 ,  52  are coupled to the trash can top doors  28 ,  30  to provide resistance for smooth opening of the doors  28 ,  30 . In order to mitigate spring fatigue, the torsion springs  50 ,  52  can be anchored at one end of each door  28 ,  30  and extend almost substantially the length of each door  28 ,  30  where the springs  50 ,  52  are mounted to the door via brackets  54 ,  56 . In one embodiment, the springs  50 ,  52  have a small bend at either end to provide a locking point to keep them firmly in place e.g., such that the springs  50 ,  52  do not slide through the brackets  54 ,  56 . The torsion springs  50 ,  52  aid in closing the trash can top doors  28 ,  30  when the pedal  20  is in an “up” position. 
         [0025]      FIG. 4  shows a top view of the trash can  10  with the trash can top doors  28 ,  30  in the open position and the trash liner  22  removed. The L-shaped brackets  38 ,  40  are extended through bracket slots  74 ,  76  located in the front of the trash can top  16 . The front of the trash can top  16  extends out from the trash liner aperture to provide additional support to the structure of the trash can  10 . As shown, each L-shaped bracket  38 ,  40  through its pad  46 ,  48  is adjacent to but not fixed to trash can top doors  28 ,  30 . It is to be appreciated that the L-shaped brackets  38 ,  40  are not attached to the trash can top doors  28 ,  30 . 
         [0026]    The rear of the trash can top  16  features a recessed handle  78  that can be employed to move the trash can  10 . The recessed handle  78  is molded into the unitary support wall  26  of the trash can top  16 . In this manner, the recessed handle  78  can be manufactured with little additional expense. In addition, the molded recessed handle is easy to clean and maintain. 
         [0027]    Trash can legs  68 ,  70  are located below the base  12  and provide support for the trash can  10 . In addition, two other legs (not shown) are located in similar lateral locations at the rear of the trash can base  12 . The location of each leg in the base  12  is distinguished by a dimple. The trash can legs provide additional support for the trash can  10  to prevent the trash can from tipping in the event there is an uneven weight distribution and/or the trash can  10  is placed on an uneven surface. The trash can legs coupled with the recessed wall of the trash can base provide a stable support for the trash can on substantially any uneven surface. 
         [0028]      FIGS. 5 and 6  provide a detailed view of the lift mechanism which includes the lift bar  60 . A motion damper  24  is comprised of a fixed portion  25  and a motion damper arm  62 . The fixed portion  25  is fixed to the base  12  by a mounting bracket  66 . The fixed portion includes a toothed gear on a shaft which is damped by means of vanes in a fluid filled housing or the like. The motion damper arm  62  is coupled at its bottom end  62   a , to the lift bar  60  utilizing a screw or other fastener engaging one or both holes  116 ,  118 . The motion damper arm  62  has teeth along one side and engages the motion damper fixed portion as in a rack and pinion. The damper arm  62  may move vertically with the lift bar  60 . However, its motion is damped or slowed by engagement with the damped toothed gear on the damper fixed portion  25 . In this manner, the motion damper arm  62  is restricted to a damped linear (e.g., non-rotatable) motion. The motion damper  24  slows the movement of the lift bar  60  in an upward direction, resulting in a slower closing of the trash can top doors  28 ,  30 . This prevents loud closing of the trash can top doors  28 ,  30 . Motion dampers are commercially available parts. 
         [0029]      FIG. 6  shows a perspective cut-away view of the trash can  10 . The trash can door  30  is open and the L-shaped bracket  40  is extended upward through bracket slot  76 . The trim strip  80  of the trash can top is illustrated and hidden from view when the trash can top doors  28 ,  30  are closed. Such a feature provides advantages over conventional trim strips located on the outside of the trash can including less maintenance to maintain a clean appearance and greater aesthetic appeal. 
         [0030]    The top of the base is contoured to support the trash liner  22  (shown in  FIG. 1 ) from the bottom. In this manner, an upper surface (e.g., lip) is not required to locate and/or support the trash liner  22  within the body  14  of the trash can  10 . In addition to supporting the trash liner  22 , the top of the base  12  is a continuous closed element thereby containing leaks or spills from the trash liner. 
         [0031]    The invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments. It will be appreciated that modifications or alterations could be made without deviating from the present invention. Such modification and alterations will occur to others upon the reading and understanding of the specifications. It is intended that all such modifications and alterations be included insofar as they come within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.