Abstract:
A trash containing device having a sealing lid that is automatically opened for use and an apparatus and method of mounting thereof that facilitates easy convenient access thereto for use.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE AND PRIORITY CLAIM TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    To the fullest extent permitted by law, the present nonprovisional patent application claims priority to, and the full benefit of, U.S. provisional patent application entitled “Trash Container”, filed on Sep. 13, 2007, having assigned Ser. No. 60/993,560. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The present disclosure relates generally to containers, and more specifically, to a trash container with an automatic lid, and a mount therefore. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    In our modern society, where packaged consumer products of all varieties abound, there is a constant need to dispose of waste and to store recyclable packaging materials. As a result containers, such as bags, bins, boxes, cans, and the like, of various designs have been employed to contain trash, recyclable material, and/or compostable material. 
         [0004]    Especially where food items are present, such as in a kitchen, pantry, restaurant, store, or the like, such containers may advantageously include a lid capable of sealing, at least in part, trash, food, or the like, within the container, whereby dispersion of unpleasant odors may be avoided or reduced. Unfortunately, however, a lid poses an impediment to use of the container, especially when a user&#39;s hands are full, such as while carrying the material to be disposed in the container. As a result, various attempts have been made to overcome the problems associated with covered containers, while retaining the advantages thereof. Inevitably, however, such attempts included complex systems or arrangements, including numerous specialized components and linkages. 
         [0005]    Furthermore, even when a lid is included, the trash can or other container may be itself be unsightly, may take up valuable floor space, or may clutter a space in which it is stored. As a result different housings and the like have been developed to conceal the trashcan and/or store it in a convenient location where it is not in the way during other tasks. Such concealment, however, likewise impedes use of the trash can or other container by requiring additional steps to access the trash can, or by disposing it in a location that is difficult to access. 
         [0006]    Thus, it is readily apparent that there exists an unmet need for a trash can having a lid that automatically opens when needed and that seals the container when not in use, and a mounting apparatus and method that allow easy access to the trash can. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY 
       [0007]    Briefly described, in a preferred embodiment, the device and system of the present disclosure overcome the above-mentioned disadvantages and meet the recognized need for such a device and system by providing a container for attachment to a cabinet door, or other door or drawer, including a lid which seals the container, opens automatically upon opening the cabinet door, or other door or drawer, and closes automatically upon closing the cabinet door, or other door or drawer. 
         [0008]    According to its major aspects, and broadly stated, the device of the present disclosure, in its preferred form, is a container comprising means for mounting to a door or drawer front of a cabinet, whereby the container may be supported by the door or drawer front, means for biasing an operable lid of the container in an open condition, and means for closing the lid as the door is closed, and for maintaining the lid in a closed position when the door is maintained in the closed position. 
         [0009]    The container may be a trash can, with or without a bag or other liner therein, or a structure adapted to removably retain a trash can therein. The container may have a bottom, and one or more sides, and may have apertures formed therein, or other cut-out or opening, such as to reduce a weight thereof, without reducing its ability to contain trash, a trash can, a trash bag, or the like. The mounting means may be formed as one or more flange, or the like, adapted to engage an interior surface of the door or drawer front of a cabinet, such as directly via mechanical fasteners, adhesive, a groove, channel, or notch, or the like, or indirectly via a complimentary member having such a groove channel, notch, or the like that engages the door or drawer front. Alternatively, the mounting means may be formed as one or more hook, hanger, hanging means, clip, strap, combinations thereof, or the like. 
         [0010]    A sealing lid may be included on the container via a hinge, preferably at a portion thereof opposing a portion including the mounting means, whereby the lid may open via a portion thereof proximate the door or drawer front swinging up and away therefrom via the hinge. The hinge is preferably biased, such as via a spring, whereby the lid opens automatically when the lid is no longer disposed within the cabinet. 
         [0011]    The means for closing the lid may be carried by the cabinet, and is preferably removably engaged with the lid only when the door is closed, or partially open, whereby the lid is completely disengaged from the means for closing when the door is open, i.e. when the lid is no longer disposed within the cabinet. The means for closing may be formed as a durable and low-friction slide or roller element adapted to engage a portion of the lid as the door is closed and force the lid down, into a closed potion, sliding or rolling thereover, as the door is closed further. 
         [0012]    Once closed, the means for closing preferably maintains the lid in a closed position, such as via a spring-biased wheel that engages the lid, and preferably a groove thereof. The groove may be formed such that the biasing force resists opening of the door. 
         [0013]    Accordingly, one feature and advantage of the device and system of the present disclosure is the ability to accomplish automatic opening of the lid upon opening of the door, and to accomplish automatic closing of the lid upon closing of the door. 
         [0014]    Another feature and advantage of the device and system of the present disclosure is the ability to accomplish such opening and closing of the lid via means which may disengage from the lid when the door is open. 
         [0015]    These and other features and advantages of the device and system of the present disclosure will become more apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art after reading the following Detailed Description and Claims in light of the accompanying drawing Figures. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0016]    Accordingly, the claimed invention will be understood best through consideration of, and with reference to, the following drawing Figures, viewed in conjunction with the Detailed Description referring thereto, in which like reference numbers throughout the various Figures designate like structure and in which: 
           [0017]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a trash container according to the present disclosure; and 
           [0018]      FIG. 2  is a side partial cut-away view of the trash container of  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
       [0019]    It is to be noted that the drawings presented are intended solely for the purpose of illustration and that they are, therefore, neither desired nor intended to limit the claimed invention to any or all of the exact details of construction shown, except insofar as they may be deemed essential to the claimed invention. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0020]    In describing preferred embodiments of the device and system of the present disclosure illustrated in the Figures, specific terminology is employed for the sake of clarity. The claimed invention, however, is not intended to be limited to the specific terminology so selected, and it is to be understood that each specific element includes all technical equivalents that operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similar purpose. 
         [0021]    In that form of the preferred embodiment of the device and system of the present disclosure chosen for purposes of illustration in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , trash container  100  is preferably attached to door D of cabinet C such that trash container  100  may be accessed when door D is open, at least when door D is open a sufficient amount to allow lid  120  of trash container  100  to clear face frame F of cabinet C, and may be disposed inside cabinet C when door D is closed for convenient storage. 
         [0022]    Trash container  100  may comprise one or more solid side panels  101 , and bottom panel  103  as shown, and may be mounted directly to door D via mounting means  110 , such as flange  111  and fasteners  113  disposed therethrough. As such, trash may be disposed directly in trash container  100 , in a trash bag disposed therein, or in a conventional trash can disposed therein. Alternatively, trash container  100  may comprise one or more perforated or slotted panels, including mesh or screen sections, or the like, whereby a weight of trash container  100  may be reduced, thus reducing a stress on mounting means  110  and door D. When trash container  100  comprises one or more panel having one or more opening formed therethrough, a bag or other liner is preferably used to prevent trash or other items placed in trash container  100  from escaping through an opening. Alternatively, however, no liner may be used, such as for recyclable materials, especially where ventilation may be beneficial and the items disposed in trash container  100  are larger than the one or more opening. 
         [0023]    As will be understood by those skilled in the art, mounting means  110  may take many other forms, including one or more hook, hanger, hanging means, clip, strap, adhesive, ties, combinations thereof, or the like. Likewise, flange  111  may be attached to door D other than via fasteners  113 , such as via adhesive, engagement with one or more groove or slot, either formed in door D or in a structure attached thereto, or the like. Furthermore, mounting means  110  may be formed as a cage or other frame disposed, at least in part, around trash container  100 . Fasteners  113  may be formed as one or more screw, nail, peg, rivet, hook, tack, or the like adapted to retain flange  111  in engagement with door D. 
         [0024]    Lid  120  is preferably further included on trash container  100 , disposed on an upper portion thereof via hinge  121 , preferably in a sealing arrangement. Hinge  121  is preferably disposed on a portion of trash container  100  generally opposite door D and flange  111 , whereby lid  120  may preferably open via swinging up and away from door D through arc A. Hinge  121  preferably includes biasing means  123 , such as spring  125 , a pneumatic device, a magnetic device, or the like, whereby lid  120  may preferably open automatically. 
         [0025]    Means  130  for closing lid  120 , and maintaining lid  120  in a closed position, as shown in  FIG. 2 , are preferably included to overcome a biasing force of biasing means  123 , whereby lid  120  may be closed, and maintained in a closed position, such as during storage. Means  130  preferably includes plate  131  mounted to frame F of cabinet C and adapted to engage lid  120  and force lid  120  downward towards the closed position as door D is closed. Plate  131  is, accordingly, disposed at a position on frame F where engagement with lid  120  occurs as door D is closed. Such engagement preferably forces lid down through arc A as trash container  100  moves thereunder. As will be understood by those ordinarily skilled in the art, plate  131  may be formed of a resilient and/or durable material whereby continued use to close lid  120  may not cause excessive wear or damage to plate  131 , and may further include a surface having a low coefficient of friction, including low coefficient coatings, whereby damage or wear to lid  120  may be avoided. 
         [0026]    Means  130  may alternatively, or additionally, further include biased wheel  133 , likewise mounted to cabinet C and adapted to engage lid  120 , preferably at groove  127  formed therein, to maintain lid  120  in the closed position, whereby trash container  100  is sealed by lid  120 . Groove  127  is preferably formed so as to provide a well in which biased wheel  133  is disposed when door D is completely closed, whereby a biasing force of biased wheel  133  may resist, at least to some degree, the opening of door D. Thus, any force tending to open door D, such as a force applied by biasing means  123 , may be resisted by a downward biasing force of biased wheel  133  via engagement with groove  127 . 
         [0027]    Biased wheel  133  is preferably arranged so as to rotate freely, such as about a pin or other axle, with or without bearings, whereby lid  120  may freely travel thereunder, at least in a direction of rotation, while engaged with biased wheel  133 . Biased wheel  133  is preferably further arranged to travel a distance in a direction generally perpendicular to a top of lid  120 , including via traveling vertically in a channel or via rotation about a pin or other pivot point, and is preferably biased in the direction of travel towards lid  120  disposed thereunder, whereby biased wheel may follow a contour of the top of lid  120  as lid  120  moves with respect to cabinet C, and biased wheel  133 . For example, lid  120  may include a sloped portion towards a peripheral edge thereof distal of door D, whereby biased wheel may move vertically under the biasing force to maintain contact with the sloping surface as door D is opened. Thus, when door D is opened slightly, i.e. a sufficient distance to remove biased wheel  133  from the well, the biasing force of biased wheel  133  may cause door D to open automatically via transmission of the biasing force through the sloped surface of top  120 . 
         [0028]    In use, container  100 , including lid  120 , may be mounted, either permanently or removably, to an interior surface of door D proximate an upper peripheral edge thereof, and preferably proximate a side thereof opposite a hinged side, whereby when door D is closed, container  100  may be disposed within cabinet C proximate face frame F thereof, and whereby when door D is open, container  100  is completely removed from cabinet C. Plate  131  and biased wheel  133  may be installed, either permanently or removably, on cabinet C so as to each contact lid  120  when door D is closing or closed. Thus, when door D is opened, lid  120  may disengage from means  130  as it is removed from cabinet C via movement of door D, and may automatically open under the biasing force of biasing means  123  when completely removed from cabinet C. Trash, recyclable material, or the like, may then be placed in open container  100 , as desired. Door D may then be closed, thereby engaging lid  120  with means  130 , causing lid  120  to close and remain closed while simultaneously disposing container  100  within cabinet C where it may be hidden from sight and may free up space for other uses. The disengagement of lid  120  from means  130  preferably allows container  100  to be removed from door D, when means  120  are formed as removable mounting means, such as slot or channel slidably receiving flange  111 , whereby container  100  may be carried or otherwise transported to a desired location, such as for trash or recycling collection, or the like. 
         [0029]    Having thus described exemplary embodiments of the device and system of the present disclosure, it should be noted by those ordinarily skilled in the art that the within disclosures are exemplary only and that various other alternatives, adaptations, and modifications may be made within the scope and spirit of the present disclosure. For example, the trash container may be used with a drawer, shelf, or the like, and may be formed of wire mesh or other perforated or woven material for ventilation. These and various other alternative arrangements, shapes, sizes, and the like, will be apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art, and are deemed to be within the scope of the present disclosure. Accordingly, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments as illustrated herein, but is only limited by the following claims.