Abstract:
The improved trash container may have a dustpan attached to the opening of the trash container. The dustpan engages the ground when the trash container is laid down flat. As the trash container is moved from one location to another, the lip of the dustpan is self sharpening. The ground sharpens the lip of the dust pan to further improve contact between the floor and the lip or mitigate dust from slipping under the dustpan itself when the waste product is being swept into the trash container. Moreover, the improved trash container may have a raised lower portion to balance the trashcan on the lip and the raised portion to facilitate contact between the lip and the ground. The lip may be manufactured from a softer material compared to the raised proportion to increase the life span of the improved trash container.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    Not Applicable 
       STATEMENT RE: FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH/DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not Applicable 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    The embodiments disclosed herein relate to a trash container. In a garage, leaves, paper products and waste products may be strewn about the ground. To pick up the waste product, the resident may sweep up the waste product in a dustpan and transfer the waste product from the dustpan to a trashcan. Unfortunately, the dustpan and the sweeper are separate items and may be misplaced. When dust pans are not available, the user may lay a piece of paper on the ground and sweep the waste product on the piece of paper and transfer the waste product from the paper to the trashcan. Unfortunately, this is a less than efficient work around when a dust pan is not available. Alternatively, the resident may lay a trash bag on the ground while holding the edge of the periphery of the trash bag on the ground in an attempt to sweep the waste product directly into the trash bag. Unfortunately, to spread the edge of the trash bag taut against the ground and sweep the waste product into the trash bag requires two people. 
         [0004]    Accordingly, there is a need in the art for an improved method and device for collecting waste product on the ground. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY 
       [0005]    The embodiments disclosed herein address the needs discussed above, discussed below and those that are known in the art. The improved trash container incorporates a dustpan attached to an opening of the trash container so that the trash container can be used in the erected position as well as in the laid down position for sweeping waste product on the ground into the trash container with a broom or other similar device. Moreover, the side panel of the trash container with the dust pan attached thereto may have a raised portion which lifts the bottom side of the trash container off of the ground when the trash container is in the laid down position or sweeping position. The raised portion balances the trash container on the raised portion and a lip or edge of the dustpan to facilitate or encourage the entire length of the lip to contact the ground. If the trash container is warped, the warpage does not affect how the lip of the trash container contacts the ground since the trash container is balanced on the edge of the lip and the raised portion. Additionally, the first side panel may be angled downward when the trash container is in the sweeping position to urge waste product to the bottom side of the trash container after being swept over the dustpan and into the trash container. Additionally, the lip of the dustpan may be fabricated from a material that can be ground down as the trash container is being dragged on the floor in the sweeping position to pick up waste product distributed on the ground. The raised portion may have a durable material that is more durable and resistant to wearing than the lip. The trash container can outlast or be more durable than the dustpan or lip. The lip may be replaceable. It is also contemplated that the dustpan may have reinforced sides as well as be removably attachable to a body of the trash container. 
         [0006]    More particularly, a trash container for sweeping waste product on a ground into the container is disclosed. The trash container may comprise a body and a dust pan. The body may have a plurality of side panels and a bottom panel which collectively hold the waste product when the trash container is oriented in an upright position. The dust pan may be attached to a first flat side panel of the plurality of side panels. An edge of the dust pan may have a ground interface surface and a dusting surface which collectively form a lip. The ground interface surface may be flush with a ground when the trash container is oriented in a sweeping position. Friction between the ground interface surface and the ground may sharpen the lip as the trash container is moved on the ground when sweeping different areas of the ground. 
         [0007]    The dust pan may extend outside a periphery of an opening of the container so that the first panel is sloped downward to hold the waste product in the trash container when the trash container is oriented in the sweeping position. The angle (i.e., downward slope) between the ground and the first panel when the trash container is oriented in the sweeping position may be about 2 degrees to about 25 degrees and preferably between 2 degrees and 8 degrees. 
         [0008]    The first panel may have a raised portion at a lower portion of the first panel so that the lip remains flush to the ground by balancing the trash container on the lip and the raised portion when the trash container is oriented in the sweeping position. The raised portion may be centrally located on a width of the first panel. 
         [0009]    The plurality of panels may comprise the first side panel and second, third and fourth side panels arranged to have a rectangular configuration. 
         [0010]    The dust pan may be removable attachedable to upper edge portions of the plurality of side panels. The side portions of the dust pan may be reinforced. In particular, the reinforced side portions have a bent member. 
         [0011]    The second side panel opposite the first side panel may have a handle. 
         [0012]    Additionally, a method of sweeping up waste product from a ground is disclosed. The method may comprise the steps of laying down a trash container on the ground in a sweeping position; balancing the trash container on a wide lip and a raised nub portion on a first side panel of the trash container; sweeping waste product onto the wide lip and into the trash container; moving the trash container to different areas on the ground to sweep up waste product; sharpening the lip during the moving step; and erecting the trash container in an upright position. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]    These and other features and advantages of the various embodiments disclosed herein will be better understood with respect to the following description and drawings, in which like numbers refer to like parts throughout, and in which: 
           [0014]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an improved trash container in an erect position; 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the improved trash container shown in  FIG. 1  in a sweeping position; 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is a side view of the improved trash container shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  is a rear perspective view of the improved trash container shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 5  is an enlarged view of a lip of a dust pan shown in  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 6  illustrates a second embodiment of the improved trash container with a removably attachable dust pan tray body of the trash container; 
           [0020]      FIG. 7  is a side view of an improved trash container in an erect position with a lid; 
           [0021]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the improved trash container shown in  FIG. 7  in a sweeping position; 
           [0022]      FIG. 9  is a side view of the improved trash container shown in  FIG. 8 ; 
           [0023]      FIG. 10  is a second embodiment of a lid of the improved trash container; 
           [0024]      FIG. 11  is a cross sectional exploded view of the lid and the improved trash container; and 
           [0025]      FIG. 12  is an exploded side view of a second embodiment of the pivoting connection between the lid and the improved trash container. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0026]    Referring now to the drawings, a trash container  10  is shown. The trash container  10  has a dust pan  12  attached to the opening  14  of the trash container  10 . The trash container  10  may be used normally in the upright position as shown in  FIG. 1 . Also, the trash container  10  may be laid down, as shown in  FIG. 2 , so that the user can sweep waste product into the trash container  10  by way of the dust pan  12  as shown by arrow  16 . When the trash container  10  is laid on the ground  18 , a first side panel is angled downward (see angle a in  FIG. 3 ) so that waste product is urged to the bottom side  22  of the trash container  10  after being swept over the dust pan  12 . The first side panel  20  has a raised portion  24  at the bottom side  22  of the trash container  10 , as shown in  FIGS. 2-4 . When the trash container  10  is laid on the ground, as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the trash container  10  is balanced on a lip  26  and the raised portion  24 . Referring now to  FIG. 5 , the lip  26  is self sharpening and provides a better fit to the ground  18  over a period of time as the trash container  10  is moved from location to location sweeping up waste product. As the user pushes the trash container  10  on the ground to pick up waste, over a period of time, the lip  26  conforms to the shape of the ground  18 . Referring now to  FIG. 6 , the dust pan  12  may optionally be removably attachable to the body  28  of the trash container  10 . 
         [0027]    Referring back to  FIG. 1 , the trash container  10  may have the first side panel  20 , opposed second side panel  30 , third side panel  32  and fourth side panel  34 . The side panels  20 ,  30 ,  32 ,  34  may be collectively joined together to form a rectangular shaped trash container  10 . The rectangular configuration allows the trash container  10  to fit into a narrow square space such as between shelving, boxes, etc. Although the trash container  10  is shown as having a rectangular configuration (preferred due to space saving), other configurations are also contemplated such as circular, octagonal, triangular, etc. The bottom ends of the first, second, third and fourth side panels  20 ,  30 ,  32 ,  34  may be joined to each other by way of a bottom panel  36 . The bottom panel  36  may be flat so that the trash container  10  may be traversed to the erected position (see  FIG. 1 ). The side panels  20 ,  30 ,  32 ,  34  and the bottom panel  36  hold the waste product in the trash container  10 . Normally, the trash container  10  may be oriented in the upright position as shown in  FIG. 1 . Users may throw trash into the trash container  10  through the opening  14 . 
         [0028]    For waste product that is distributed on the ground which is inconvenient to pick up individually by hand, the trash container  10  may be laid down on the ground as shown in  FIG. 2 . This is identified as the sweeping position. In the sweeping position, the lip  26  of the dust pan  12  contacts the ground  18 . The user may sweep waste product into the trash container with a broom or other similar device. 
         [0029]    The lip  26  mates flush with the ground by balancing the lip  26  of the trash container  10  on the ground  18 . In particular, the bottom side of the trash container  10  has the raised portion  24 , as shown in  FIGS. 2-4 . The raised portion  24  may be formed on the first side panel  20 . Preferably, the raised portion  24  is a single bump or nub on the first side panel  20 . When the trash container  10  laid down in the sweeping position, the raised portion  24  contacts the ground. The raised portion lifts the bottom side of the trash container up as shown in  FIG. 3 . The trash container  10  falls down and the lip  26  contacts the ground. The trash container  10  is balanced on the lip  26  and the raised portion  24 . Since the raised portion  24  is only a single location, any warpage of the trash container  10  at the bottom side  22  of the trash container does not affect the contact between the lip  26  and the ground  18 . The entire length of the lip  26  remains flush with the ground  18 . 
         [0030]    As the trash container  10  (see  FIG. 2 ) is moved from location to location to sweep up waste product on the ground, the lip  26  maintains constant contact with the ground  18 , as shown in  FIG. 5 . Additionally, since the ground is typically course, the lip  26  is being constantly sharpened as the trash container  10  is dragged on the ground  18 . If the entire length of the lip  26  is not initially flush with the ground  18 , then the lip  26  over a period of time will eventually be ground down so that the lip  26  conforms to the surface of the ground  18 . The lip  26  of the dust pan  12  may be fabricated from a material that can be ground down by the ground  18 . By way of the example and not limitation, the lip  26  may be fabricated from a polycarbonate material, polyurethane material, plastic material, synthetic rubber, natural rubber, or the like. If the lip  26  is fabricated from a polyurethane material then preferably the hardness of the material is about or less than Shore A  75  to allow for quick grinding and conformity of the lip  26  to the ground. The material selected for the lip  26  should allow the lip  26  to be ground down through repeated movement of the trash container  10  while in the sweeping position. In contrast to the lip  26 , the raised portion  24  may be fabricated from a more durable material. By way of example, an exterior surface of the raised portion  24  may be coated with or covered with a scuff resistant padding. The scuff resistant padding may be manufactured from material such as steel reinforced rubber, steel, aluminum, and the like. Accordingly, the raised portion  24  or a padding thereon may be manufactured from a material more durable than the lip  26 . Alternatively, the raised portion  24  may be thicker compared to the average thickness of the first side panel  20  so that the raised portion  24  is more durable. 
         [0031]    Referring now to  FIG. 5 , the lip  26  may define a ground interface surface  36  and a dusting surface  38  which intersects with each other at edge  40  of the lip  26 . The dust pan  12  is attached to the body  28  of the trash container  10  in an orientation so that the ground interface surface  36  is flush with the ground  18  when the trash container  10  is in the sweeping position. Generally, the dust pan  12  may be attached to the body  28  so that edge  40  maintains contact with the ground  18  so that waste product (e.g., dust, paper, etc.) does not slip under the dust pan  12  when the waste product is being swept into the trash container  10  by way of the dust panel  12 . As the user moves the trash container  10  on the ground  18 , the ground  18  being course grinds down the ground interface surface  36 . Over a period of time, the ground interface surface  36  matches the contour of the ground  18 . If the trash container  10  is warped through heat and the lip  26  does not lay flush to the ground, the ground interface surface  36  will eventually be ground down so that the lip  26  will eventually conform to the ground  18 . 
         [0032]    Referring back to  FIG. 1 , the dust pan  12  preferably extends outward from an outer periphery  42  of the opening  14  of the trash container  10 . In this manner, when the trash container  10  is laid down in the sweeping position (see  FIG. 3 ), the first panel  20  slopes downward at an angle a. This urges waste product down to the bottom side  22  of the trash container  10  once the waste product enters the trash container  10 . After sweeping up the waste product, the user may grasp handle  44  to pick up the trash container  10  and traverse the trash container  10  from the sweeping position to the upright position. 
         [0033]    Referring now to  FIGS. 1 and 4 , the dust pan  12  may additionally have side walls  46 ,  48 . These side walls  46 ,  48  redirect waste product into the trash can that would have been swept to the side of the dust pan  12 . Moreover, the sidewalls  46 ,  48  may be reinforced by having a bend. 
         [0034]    Referring now to  FIG. 6 , the dust pan  12  may be removably attachable to a body  28  of the trash container  10 . The dust pan  12  may have an inner lip  52 . The inner lip extends downward and also has an edge  54 . The body  28  of the trash container  10  may have a bead  56  which is caught by the lip  52  and the edge  54  to hold the dust pan  12  on the body  28 . A trash liner may be placed in the body  28 . The upper edge portion of the trash liner is wrapped over the edge of the body  28 . The dust pan  12  can then be mounted to the body to secure the trash liner in the trash container  10 . 
         [0035]    The body  28  and the dust pan  12  may be a unitary structure as shown in  FIGS. 1-4 . By way of example, the body  28  and the dust pan  12  may be fabricated as a single blow molded piece. Alternatively, the body  28  and the dust pan  12  may be permanently attached to each other through adhesive, sonic welding, etc. Moreover, the body and the dust pan  12  may be fabricated as two separate components as described in relation to  FIG. 6 . 
         [0036]    Optionally, the lip  26   a  may be removably mountable to the dust pan  12  as shown in  FIG. 1 . The lip  26   a  may be mounted to an edge  60  of the dust pan through rivets, adhesive, chemical bonding, hooks and loops and the like. The lip  26   a  may be rigid as in the embodiments discussed above. Alternatively, the lip  26   a  may have a rigid member  62  and a flexible member  64 . The rigid member  62  may be attached to the edge  60  as discussed. The flexible member  62  may form a seal with the ground so that waste product does not slip under the lip  26   a  and the dust pan  12  as waste product is being swept into the trash container  10 . 
         [0037]    Referring now to  FIG. 7 , the trash container  10   a  may be fitted with a lid  100 . The lid  100  may rotate about pivot point  102  which defines a first portion  104  and a second portion  106  of the lid  100 . When the trash container  10   a  is in the upright position, as shown in  FIG. 7 , trash  108  may be thrown into the trash container  10   a  by pivoting the second portion  106  about the pivot point  102  in the down direction shown in  FIG. 7 . After the trash  108  is secured in the trash container  10   a,  the first portion  104  which may be heavier than the second portion  106  may rotate the lid  100  back to its closed position as shown by the dash lines in  FIG. 7 . More particularly, the moment caused by the weight of the first portion  104  about the pivot point  102  may be greater than the moment caused by the weight of the second portion  106  about the pivot point  102 . Hence, after trash  108  is inserted into the trash container  10   a,  the lid  100  pivots back up to the closed position. Moreover, the distal end  114  may contact the edge  116  of the improved trash container  10   a  to keep the lid  100  in the level position or the closed position. 
         [0038]    Beneficially, as shown in  FIG. 8 , the trash container  10   a  may also be laid down on the ground  18  in the sweeping position. When trash  108  is swept into the trash container  10   a , the lid  100  rotates about the pivot point  102  to allow insertion of the trash  108  into the trash container  10   a . The weight of the first portion  104  rotates the lid  100  to the opened position. Referring to  FIG. 9 , the moment caused by the weight of the first portion  104  about the pivot point  102  is greater than the moment caused by the weight of the second portion  106  about the pivot point  102 . To increase the moment caused by the weight of the first portion  104 , the first portion  104  may be embedded with heavy materials. By way of example and not limitation, the lid  100  may be fabricated from a plastic, lightweight material whereas the first portion  104  of the lid  100  may have metallic plates embedded therein or attached thereto. When the center of gravity  110  of the first portion  104  goes over the vertical center line  118  of the pivot point  102  as the trash  108  is pushed into the container, the weight of the first portion  104  causes a moment about the pivot point  102  greater than the moment of the weight of the second portion  106  about the same pivot point  102 . This causes the lid to rotate counterclockwise until a distal end  120  of the second portion  106  of the lid  100  contacts the interior surface  122  of the trash container  10   a . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 9 , the center of gravity  110  of the first portion  104  does not initially cause the lid  100  to rotate in the counterclockwise direction. Only after the trash  108  pushes the second portion  106  slightly inward does the center of gravity  110  of the first portion  104  cross the vertical center line  118  of the pivot point  102 . When the weight of the first portion  104  creates a moment about pivot point  102  greater than the moment caused by the second portion  106 , the lid  100  is rotated until the distal end  120  contacts the interior surface  122  of the improved trash container  10   a.    
         [0039]    Referring now to  FIG. 10 , the first portion  104  may be designed so that the center of gravity  110   a  is over the vertical center line  118  when once the trash container  10   a  is laid on the ground  18 . The first portion  104  may have a built up area  126  that shifts the center of gravity  110   a  over the vertical center line  118 . Once the improved trash container  10   a  is laid on the ground  18 , the weight of the first portion  104  rotates the lid  100  until the distal end  120  contacts the interior surface  122  of the improved trash container  10   a . In the embodiments shown in 
         [0040]      FIGS. 9 and 10 , when the improved trash container  10   a  is lifted back up in to the erect position, the lid  100  may pivot back to the closed position where the weight of the first portion  104  will maintain the lid  100  in the closed position. 
         [0041]    Referring back to  FIG. 7 , the lid  100  may be designed so that the center of gravity  110  of the first portion  104  does not cross the vertical center line  138  of the pivot point  102  when trash  108  is being put into the trash container  10 . By way of example and not limitation, the distal end  114  of the lid  100  may contact the interior surface  122  of the trash container  10   a  before the center of gravity  110  of the first portion  104  crosses the vertical centerline  138 . In this manner, the lid  100  rotates back to the closed position when the trash container  10   a  is erected to the vertical position since the moment caused by the weight of the first portion  104  is greater than the moment caused by the weight of the second portion  106  about the pivot point  102 . The user does not need to touch the lid  100  to close the trash container  10   a.    
         [0042]    Referring now to  FIG. 11 , the lid  100  may be pivotally connected to the improved trash container  10   a  at cutout  130 . Opposed sides of the trash container has cutouts  130 . The lid  100  in  FIG. 11  is shown as being the same embodiment shown in  FIG. 9 . However, the other lid  100   a  is also connectable to the trash container shown in  FIGS. 11 and 12 . The lids  100 ,  100   a  may have round pins  132  on opposed sides thereof that extends out of the lid  100 ,  100   a . The pins  132  may be circular and have a diameter equal to a diameter of a first circular cutout  134 . When the improved trash container  10   a  is in the erect position, the lid  100  pivots about or within the circular cutout  134 . When the improved trash container  10   a  is laid on the ground  18  as shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10 , the pin  132  is received into a second circular cutout  136  which is pointed downwardly to prevent the lid  100  from detaching from the improved trash container  10   a.    
         [0043]    Referring now to  FIG. 12 , the improved trash container  10   a  may have a cutout  140  and a cavity  142 . When the improved trash container  10   a  is in the sweeping position or laid down on the ground  18 , the cavity  142  points downwardly so that the pins  132  of the lid  100  are seated within the cavity  142  and cannot or are less likely to be pulled out of the cutouts  140 . The cutouts  140  have a width  144  which may be slightly less than, equal to, or slightly greater than a diameter of the pin  132 . If the width  144  is slightly less than the diameter  142  of the pin  132 , then the deformation of the material surrounding the cutout  140  allows the pin  132  to be snapped into the cutout  140  and into the cavity  142 . In this manner, the lid  100  cannot be pulled out during use. 
         [0044]    The above description is given by way of example, and not limitation. Given the above disclosure, one skilled in the art could devise variations that are within the scope and spirit of the invention disclosed herein, including various ways of attaching the lip  26   a  to the dust pan  12 . Further, the various features of the embodiments disclosed herein can be used alone, or in varying combinations with each other and are not intended to be limited to the specific combination described herein. Thus, the scope of the claims is not to be limited by the illustrated embodiments.