Abstract:
A litter receptacle system, including: a support frame; a container for receiving and storing litter; a coupler; and a retention device; wherein the coupler rotatably couples the container to the support frame; the retention device is in communication with the support frame and the container; and the retention device is operable to releasably secure the container to the support frame, and a method of using the same.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. provisional application entitled, “Cigarette Litter Receptacle,” having Ser. No. 61/066,847 filed Feb. 22, 2008 which is entirely incorporated herein by reference. 
     BACKGROUND 
     The present disclosure relates to litter receptacle systems. A litter receptacle system typically includes an open top container for the disposal of litter, including extinguished cigarettes. 
     SUMMARY 
     Embodiments of the present disclosure are related to litter receptacle systems, assemblies and methods. 
     Briefly described, one embodiment, among others, comprises a litter receptacle system. In an exemplary embodiment the litter receptacle system includes: a support frame for receiving and holding litter; a container; a coupler; and a retention device; wherein the coupler rotatably couples the container to the support frame, the retention device is in communication with the support frame and container, and the retention device is operable to releasably secure the container to the support frame to prevent rotation of the container with respect to the support frame when the retention device operates to secure the container to the support frame. 
     Another embodiment, among others, comprises a method for litter disposal. In an exemplary embodiment the method for litter disposal includes: providing a litter receptacle including a support frame, a container for receiving and storing litter, the container rotatably coupled to the support frame, and a retention device for releasably securing the container to the support frame, preferably in a substantially upright position; disengaging the retention device from the container; rotating the container to an inverted position; emptying the container; rotating the container back into a substantially upright position; and employing the retention device to re-engage the container to said support frame. 
     Another exemplary embodiment of the method of the present invention further includes: providing an extinguisher in connection with the container; extinguishing a cigarette, or other lit smoking product, by pressing or rubbing the lit end of the product against the extinguisher; dropping the product into the container; disengaging the retention device from the container; rotating the container into an inverted position; emptying the container; rotating the container back to a substantially upright position; and employing the retention device to re-engage the container in said substantially upright position. 
     Other systems, methods, features, and advantages of the present invention will be or become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following drawings and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features, and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the present invention, and be protected by the accompanying claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Many aspects of the invention can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present invention. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. 
         FIG. 1  is a side view of an exemplary embodiment of a litter receptacle of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  is a rear view of the litter receptacle of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a front view of a litter receptacle of  FIG. 1  in an emptying position; 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of an exemplary embodiment of a litter receptacle of the present disclosure with a surrounding support frame; 
         FIG. 5  is a front view of the litter receptacle of  FIG. 4  in an emptying position; 
         FIG. 6  is a front view of a litter receptacle of  FIG. 4  in a vertical position; and 
         FIG. 7  is a cut away top view of the litter receptacle of  FIG. 4  along A-A of  FIG. 2 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Disclosed herein are various embodiments of systems, assemblies, and methods related to litter receptacles. Reference will now be made in detail to the description of the embodiments as illustrated in the drawings, wherein like reference numbers indicate like parts throughout the several views. 
       FIGS. 1 and 2  depict an exemplary embodiment of a litter receptacle  100  as viewed from the side. The litter receptacle  100  includes a container  240  rotatably coupled to a support frame  110 , which, in the embodiment of  FIGS. 1 and 2 , is a plate, via rotating coupler  220  such that the container may rotate about an axis of rotation  250  extending between the front  246  and back  244  of the container  240 . The container  240  may be enclosed on its bottom  248 , front  246 , back  244  and two sides but the top  242  has an aperture or opening ( 750  in  FIG. 7 ) for receiving litter into the container and removing litter out of the container. 
     Although the coupler  220  is depicted as a bolt, other couplers may be used, including but not limited to a pin. 
     A retention device  230  may be used to help hold the container in an upright position. The retention device  230  may be in communication with the support frame  110  and the container  240 . In the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 1  the retention device  230  is mounted to the support frame and is operable to releasably secure the container  240  to the support frame in a substantially upright position. The container is allowed to rotate about the rotating coupler and axis  250  when the container is released by the retention device. In other embodiments different retention devices may be used, including but not limited to, bolts, screws, and other types of pins. 
     The litter receptacle  100  may also include mounting couplers  210   a  and  210   b  attached to the back  114  of the support frame  110 . Exemplary mounting couplers, as depicted in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  4 , and  7  are u-bolts. U-bolts are particularly well suited for coupling the litter receptacle to round structures such as a pole, for example a pole for a parking meter. In other embodiments the mounting couplers may include, but not be limited to, screws or straight bolts. Screws and straight bolts allow the litter receptacle to be coupled to other structures, such as a wall. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , an exemplary embodiment of a litter receptacle  100  of the present disclosure in a substantially inverted position is depicted. This position may also be referred to as an upside down position or an emptying position. 
     An optional lid  710  is coupled to the container  240  with a coupler  720  such that when the container is in a substantially upright position the lid covers at least a portion of the top of the container and when the container  240  is in an emptying position the lid  710  is at least partially open to allow the contents of the container to fall out. In the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 3  the coupler  720  is a hinge. 
     The container  240  may include a cutout  510  in the upper portion of the container. When in an upright or vertical position the cutout  510  allows litter to be placed into the container. Additionally an extinguisher  130  may be located in an upper portion of the container  240  and in proximity to the cutout  510 . Such an arrangement of the cutout and extinguisher may allow the lit end of a smoked consumer product, for example a cigarette or cigar, to be inserted though the cutout  510  and pressed against and/or rubbed into the extinguisher to smother the lit end of the smoked consumer product and aid in extinguishment. 
     The extinguisher  130  may be mounted in the container at an angle with respect to a side of the container such that a distance between the extinguisher and the cutout varies, see  FIG. 7 . By varying the distance between the cutout and a location on the extinguisher, the lit end of different lengths of smoked consumer products may be pressed against and/or rubbed into the extinguisher. 
     Although the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3  depicts the cutout  510  as being located in the top portion of the front side  246  of the container  240  and in communication with the top  242  of the container  240 , in other embodiments the cutout may be in other locations, including but not limited to, the back or sides of the container. In still other embodiments the cutout may be in a top portion of the container and not in communication with the top  246  of a container. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 4 and 5 ,  FIG. 4  depicts an exemplary litter receptacle  100  of the present disclosure as viewed from the side. The litter receptacle  100  includes a support frame  110  that includes a back  114 , top  112 , front  110 , and bottom  118  that substantially surround the back  244 , top  242 , front  246 , and bottom  248  of the container  240 . The support frame may have open sides to allow the container to rotate about axis  250  between a substantially upright position as shown in  FIG. 4  to an inverted or upside down position as shown in  FIG. 5 . 
     The container  240  is rotatably coupled to the support frame  110  with coupler  220  such that the container may rotate about an axis of rotation  250  extending between the front  246  and back  244  of the container  240 . When in a substantially upright position, as depicted in  FIG. 4 , litter may be placed inside the container. When rotated into an inverted position such as the position shown in  FIG. 5 , the contents of the container may be emptied. 
     A retention device  230  may be used to help hold the container in an upright position. The embodiment of  FIG. 4  depicts a spring-biased pin mounted to the outer frame  110  which is operable to engage the outer frame  110  and the container  240  and resist rotation of the container  240  relative to the outer frame  110 . In other embodiments different retention devices may be used, including but not limited to bolts, screws, and pins. 
     The litter receptacle  100  includes mounting couplers  210   a  and  210   b  attached to the back  114  of the outer frame  110 . Additionally, the top  112  of the outer frame  110  may be slanted to discourage the accumulation of rain and the placement of other objects on the frame. 
     Although depicted as having a top  112 , bottom  118 , front  116  and back  114  surrounding the top  242 , front  246 , bottom  248 , and back  244  of the container  240 , in other embodiments the outer frame may not surround the entire top, front, bottom and back of a container. For example the support frame may simply have a back, or may have a back and also a top which substantially covers the aperture  750  of the container  240 , instead of a lid such as lid  710 . 
     In  FIG. 5 , the container  240  is shown in a substantially inverted emptying position. In this position the contents of the receptacle may fall out due to the force of gravity allowing the container  240  to be emptied. 
     Additionally, the embodiment of  FIG. 5  includes a cutout  510  in the top of the front side  246  of the container  240 . This cutout is located and sized such that when the container is in an upright position, for example, cigarettes or cigars may be inserted through the aperture  120  and cutout  510  and extinguished on the extinguisher  130  and/or dropped into the container  240 . 
     Additionally, although the extinguisher  130  is depicted as having round perforations  132 , the perforations may be of many different shapes or the extinguisher may have no perforations at all. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 6 , there is depicted an exemplary embodiment of an outer frame  110  of a litter receptacle  100  of the present disclosure. In this embodiment the front  116  of the outer frame includes an aperture  120  through which, for example, cigarettes and other trash may be placed. When a container  240  that includes a cutout is in a vertical or upright position the aperture  120  of a support frame  110  is located in proximity to a cutout (such as cutout  510  in  FIG. 5 ) such that litter may be placed through the aperture  120  and the cutout and into the container. Additionally the aperture  120  may be located in proximity to an extinguisher  130  such that the lit end of a smoked consumer product may be placed though the aperture and pressed against and/or rubbed into the extinguisher. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 7 , a top view of an exemplary litter receptacle of the present disclosure with the top of the outer frame cutaway may be seen. An extinguisher  130  is coupled to a container  240 . In an exemplary embodiment the extinguisher  130  is a perforated metal plate and is welded to the inner wall of the container  240 . Although the extinguisher is depicted as being angled with respect to the front wall  246  of the container, the angled arrangement is not required. Additionally, the extinguisher may not have perforations. 
     Additionally, although the container  240  is depicted as having a cross section of a four sided polygon which is substantially rectangular in shape, the container may have a cross section of a polygon with more or less sides or may not be a polygon at all, for example the container may have a circular cross-section, an oval or elliptical cross-section or an irregular cross-section. 
     In an exemplary implementation and method use of a litter receptacle of the present disclosure, the litter receptacle is mounted near a city sidewalk on a pole, for example, a light pole or a parking meter pole. Users insert their litter through an aperture in the container, in one embodiment the litter can consist of, for example, a lit cigarette or other smoking product, and users extinguish their smoking product by pressing and rubbing the lit end of the product against an optional extinguisher. Once extinguished, the users drop the product into the container. 
     When one wants to empty the container one may disengage the retention device and rotate the container into an inverted position allowing the litter to fall out of the container and into a larger trash receptacle for collecting the contents of several litter receptacles of the present disclosure. Once emptied, the container may be rotated back into a substantially upright orientation and engaged in such position to the support frame by the retention device. 
     It should be emphasized that the above-described embodiments of the present invention are merely possible examples of implementations, merely set forth for a clear understanding of the principles of the invention. Many variations and modifications may be made to the above-described embodiment(s) of the invention without departing substantially from the spirit and principles of the invention. All such modifications and variations are intended to be included herein within the scope of this disclosure and the present invention and protected by the following claims.