Abstract:
A self-contained lever device that can engage and lift and hold the lid of a large trash container open for ease of access. The lever device has oppositely disposed contoured engagement ends and an intermediate grip and deployable storage hooks can be disassembled into three sections for initial transportation prior to assembly.

Description:
This application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/872,461, filed Dec. 4, 2006. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Technical Field 
     This device relates to levers and lid retainment devices that are used to prop and hold lids and doors open by use of an elongated stick-like element with integral attachment lid engagement fittings. 
     2. Description of Prior Art 
     Prior art devices of this type have been directed to a variety of tubular stick-like elements that engage and hold lids and doors open, see for example U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,228,737, 6,244,650 and a trash container lid holder as seen in U.S. Pat. No. 5,595,317. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An elongated lid engagement and support element having an interlocking sectional shaft portion with curvilinear engagement ends extending therefrom. The engagement ends can slip under and engage a trash container lid allowing the user to lift “open” the lid and then prop it open using the oppositely disposed engagement end resting on the container itself for hands free access to the container. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a top side perspective view of the invention in deployed assembled position. 
         FIG. 2  is an enlarged side elevational view of the hook showing illustrative positional deployment. 
         FIG. 3  is a partial exploded view illustrating interconnection thereof. 
         FIG. 4  is an enlarged partial side elevational view of one engagement end. 
         FIG. 5  is an enlarged partial perspective view of an alternate form of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-5  of the drawings, a trash container lid lift device  10  of the invention can be seen having a main elongated body member  11  with oppositely disposed engagement surface “grips”  12  and  13  on respective free ends thereof. The body member  11  has a central portion  14  and oppositely disposed detachable end portions  15  and  16 . A contoured rubberized hand grip fitting  17  is positioned on the central portion  14  as best seen in  FIG. 1  of the drawings to afford ease of use. 
     The central portion  14  has respective hollow end fittings  15 A and  16 A for insert registration of correspondingly configured mail end registration fittings  15 B and  16 B of the respective end portions  15  and  16  which interlock therein as seen in  FIG. 3  of the drawings to form the extended use length of the main body member  11 . 
     The engagement surface “grips”  12  and  13  are of a half arcuate “C” shaped configuration and extend integrally in a transverse orientation from the respective end portions  15  and  16  and are in effective translateral orientation to one another as best seen in  FIG. 1  of the drawings. 
     A storage hook assembly  18  provides for a deployable hook  19  from within an elongated recess  20  in the respective end portions  15  and  16 . The hook  19  as seen in  FIG. 2  of the drawings is pivotally disposed from there within so as to selectively be deployed as illustrated in broken lines at  21  and in a non-deployment position at  22  by an activation lever  23  integral therewith. The hook  19  allows the trash container lid lift device  10  to be hung thereby for storage until use. 
     Each of the respective “C” shaped end engagement surface grips  12  and  13  have tapered free ends  12 A and  12 B and  13 A and  13 B with a raised insert portion of engagement material  24  of a high frictional co-efficiency therebetween. Oppositely disposed wedge extensions  25  are framed on the respective ends  12 B and  13 A with a rubberized end coating thereon at  26 . The wedge extensions  25  are of a smooth molded material having a low frictional co-efficient to aid in the position and placement of the lid lift device  10  of the invention. Correspondingly, raised bands  27  of low frictional co-efficiency are formed on the outer side surface of the ends  12 A and  12 B and  13 A and  13 B to provide ease of lid (not shown) engagement as will be evident to those skilled in the art during use. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 5  of the drawings, an alternate form of the invention can be seen at  28  in which a modified end grip portion  29  is illustrated. The end grip portion  29  has a pair of “C” shaped aligned parallel half arcuate end configurations  30  and  31  mounted on a bifurcated bracket  32  on an end portion  33 . The modified end grip portion  29  has identical engagement features as hereinbefore described with corresponding oppositely disposed wedge extensions  34 , rubberized end coating at  35  and insert portions  36  with raised bands  37  of low friction co-efficiency on their outer surfaces. The modified grip portions  29  engaging the container, holding the lid open for ease of access as set forth in the preferred embodiment hereinbefore described. 
     It will be evident to those skilled in the art that the lid lift device  10  and  25  of the invention is particularly suited for use with large commercial or residential type trash containers which have hinged lids which are difficult to hold open and simultaneously insert trash within by the user. Such a device of the invention provides a simple, safe and effective utilization entity that can provide for the simplified and safe support of trash container lids without blocking the access entrance to the container for insertion of trash. 
     It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention.