Abstract:
A trash can assembly has a shell and a lid fitted over the top end of the shell. The lid has a slidable lock member that is removably engaged to a portion of the shell to prevent the lid from being opened.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to household items, and in particular, to a trash can assembly having a lid that can be locked to prevent the lid from being opened. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     A major concern for both the home and the workplace is containing and holding wastes, refuse, and trash until permanent disposal. Trash cans act as containers for holding trash and other wastes that are produced in any typical home or office. Trash and garbage cans often employ lids and covers to contain the trash and its associated odor, to hide the trash from view, and to prevent the trash from contaminating areas beyond the lid. 
     Conventional trash cans have been improved over the years to make them more user-friendly, sanitary, and hygienic. For example, many trash cans are now provided with a foot pedal positioned adjacent the base of the trash can so that a user can step on the foot pedal to open the lid of the trash can, thereby freeing up the user&#39;s hands to toss trash, or to change the plastic liner or bag that is used to line the trash can. 
     Unfortunately, the lid can be opened inadvertently by stepping on the pedal, or by lifting the lid. There are times when it is desirable to merely lock the lid so that the lid cannot be opened. For example, the trash can may be holding dangerous or pungent waste matter, and the user may decide that the lid should be locked so that children cannot access the waste matter inside the trash can. As another example, homes that have pets running around may find it desirable to prevent the lid from opening, since these pets may inadvertently tip over a trash can. 
     Thus, there remains a need for a trash can whose lid can be locked to prevent the lid from being opened. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a trash can assembly having a lid that can be locked. 
     In order to accomplish the objects of the present invention, there is provided a trash can assembly that has a shell and a lid fitted over the top end of the shell. The lid has a slidable lock member that is removably engaged to a portion of the shell to prevent the lid from being opened. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a trash can assembly according to one embodiment of the present invention shown with the lid locked. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the trash can assembly of  FIG. 1  shown with the lid unlocked. 
         FIG. 3  is a side plan view of the trash can assembly of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4A  is a sectional side plan view of the lock member and the upper support frame of the trash can assembly of  FIG. 1  shown with the lock member in the locked position. 
         FIG. 4B  is a sectional side plan view of the lock member and the upper support frame of the trash can assembly of  FIG. 1  shown with the lock member in the unlocked position. 
         FIG. 5A  is an enlarged perspective view of the lock member and the upper support frame of the trash can assembly of  FIG. 1  shown with the lock member in the locked position. 
         FIG. 5B  is an enlarged perspective view of the lock member and the upper support frame of the trash can assembly of  FIG. 1  shown with the lock member in the unlocked position. 
         FIG. 6  is a bottom perspective view of the lid of the trash can assembly of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 7  is exploded perspective view of the lid of the trash can assembly of  FIG. 1  showing the separate components of the lock member. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The following detailed description is of the best presently contemplated modes of carrying out the invention. This description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating general principles of embodiments of the invention. The scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims. In certain instances, detailed descriptions of well-known devices and mechanisms are omitted so as to not obscure the description of the present invention with unnecessary detail. 
       FIGS. 1-7  illustrate one embodiment of a trash can assembly  20  according to the present invention. The assembly  20  has a shell  22  and an internal liner (not shown) that is adapted to be retained inside the shell  22 . The shell  22  can be made from either plastic or metal. The liner is essentially a container, and can also be made from either plastic or metal. The shell  22  is an enclosing wall which can have any desired shape, including oval, triangular, rectangular, square or circular (among others). The liner can have the same shape as the shell  22 . An upper support frame  28  can be secured to the opened top of the shell  22 , and can be provided in a separate material (e.g., plastic if the shell  22  is metal) from the shell  22 . 
     A lid  32  is hingedly connected to the upper support frame  28  using hinged connections that are well-known in the art, and will not be described in greater detail herein. As one non-limiting example, the lid  32  can be hingedly connected to the shell  22  in the manner that is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,626,316, whose entire disclosure is incorporated by this reference as though set forth fully herein. The shell  22  and its lid  32  can be made of a solid and stable material, such as a metal. The shell  22  has a base  34 , and a foot pedal  36  is pivotably secured to the base  34 . 
     A link assembly extends from the foot pedal  36  along the base  34  and then upwardly along the rear of the shell  22  to the upper support frame  28  and the lid  32 . The link assembly operates to translate an up-down pivot motion of the pedal  36  to a corresponding up-down pivot motion for the lid  32 . The construction and operation of link assemblies are well-known in the art, and will not be described in greater detail herein. As one non-limiting example, the link assembly, foot pedal  36  and lid  32  can be constructed in accordance with that which is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,626,316, whose entire disclosure is incorporated by this reference as though set forth fully herein. 
     A lock member  40  is provided on the lid  32 , and cooperates with the upper frame member  28  to lock the lid  32 , thereby preventing the lid  32  from being opened. As best shown in  FIGS. 4A-4B ,  5 A- 5 B,  6  and  7 , the lock member  40  has a slide member  42  and a base member  44  that is secured to a portion (e.g., about half) of the lower surface  46  of the slide member  42  by a screw  45 . A tongue  48  extends from the base member  44  in a direction facing the lower surface  46  of the slide member  42 . As best shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  7 , the slide member  42  is seated in a depression  50  provided along the edge  52  of the lid  32  near the front of the lid  32 . The slide member  42  has a guide ridge  60  extending from its lower surface  46 , with the guide ridge  60  extending through an opening  62  provided in the depression  50  of the lid  32  to be secured to the base member  44 . The opening  62  is larger than the guide ridge  60  to facilitate the reciprocal sliding motion of the lock member  40  described below. 
     The lock member  40  is adapted to experience reciprocal sliding motion between the locked position ( FIGS. 4A and 5A ) and the unlocked position ( FIGS. 4B and 5B ). The slide member  42  slides back and forth inside the depression  50 . The upper frame support  28  is provided with an opening  30  that is adapted to receive the tongue  48  on the base member  44 . To lock the lid  32 , the user merely slides the slide member  42  towards the front of the lid  32 , as shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  4 A and  5 A. This causes the tongue  48  to be received inside and through the opening  30 , so that the lid  32  is secured to the upper support frame  28 . As best shown in  FIG. 4A , the tongue  48  remains inside the confines of the shell  22  because there is a space  54  defined between the shell  22  and the upper support frame  28 . To unlock the lid  32 , the user merely slides the slide member  42  towards the rear of the lid  32 , as shown in  FIGS. 2 ,  4 B and  5 B. This causes the tongue  48  to be disengaged from the opening  30 , so that the lid  32  is disengaged from the upper support frame  28 . 
     The above detailed description is for the best presently contemplated modes of carrying out the invention. This description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating general principles of embodiments of the invention. The scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims. In certain instances, detailed descriptions of well-known devices, components, mechanisms and methods are omitted so as to not obscure the description of the present invention with unnecessary detail.