Abstract:
A trash providing a lid with a compressable structure manually operable via a handle bar adjustably attached to the lid is described. The compressable structure can allow the volume of contents stored within the trash can to be compressed for more efficient use of garbage bags. The handle bar may be attached to the lid in a storage position when not in use. Alternatively or optionally, the handle bar may be attached to the lid in an operating position to push compacting the compressable structure or to pull opening the lid. The handle bar by be operable between the operating and storage position via simple manual push, pull and/or rotate actions.

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates generally to waste containers, and in particular, to a trash can assembly convenient for compacting trash. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Trash containers are well-known devices used to dispose of various kinds of waste. There is a need to reduce the size of waste in a trash container (e.g., to compact or compress the waste) before the waste is disposed. Compacting allows more waste to be disposed of before the trash container is emptied to reduce the number of trash bags used. 
         [0003]    Examples of devices for compacting trash include electrical devices based on motors or even us hydraulic systems. Other devices typically preferred for home or office use may have levers, baffles, numerous moving parts, or cumbersome components. 
         [0004]    Even though existing devices may be effective, users continually seek easier, simpler and more cost effective ways to compact trash in a container for disposal. 
       SUMMARY OF THE DESCRIPTION 
       [0005]    A trash can provides a lid with a compressing structure manually operable via a handle bar adjustably attached to the lid. The compressing structure can allow the volume of contents stored within the trash can to be compressed for more efficient use of garbage bags. The handle bar may be attached to the lid in a storage position when not in use. Alternatively or optionally, the handle bar may be attached to the lid in an operating position to push the compressing structure or to pull opening the lid. The handle bar by be operable between the operating and storage position via simple manual push, pull and/or rotate actions. 
         [0006]    Other advantages and features of the present invention will become manifest to those versed in the art upon making reference to the detailed description and the accompanying sheets of drawings in which a preferred structural embodiment incorporating the principles of the present invention is shown by way of illustrative example. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    The present invention is illustrated by way of examples and not limitations in the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which like references indicate similar elements and in which: 
           [0008]      FIGS. 1A-1B  are perspective views of a trash can assembly according to some embodiments of the present invention; 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of a trash can assembly according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0010]      FIGS. 3A-3E  show an exemplary sequence of operation for a trash can assembly according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  shows exemplary configurations to operate a trash can assembly according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0012]    In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth, such as examples of external surfaces, named components, connections between components, etc., in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well known components or methods have not been described in detail but rather in a block diagram in order to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the present invention. Further specific numeric references such as first, second, third, etc., may be made. However, the specific numeric references should not be interpreted as a literal sequential order but rather interpreted as references to different objects. Thus, the specific details set forth are merely exemplary. The specific details may be varied from and still be contemplated to be within the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
         [0013]    Reference in the specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment can be included in at least one embodiment of the invention. The appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” in various places in the specification do not necessarily all refer to the same embodiment. 
         [0014]      FIGS. 1A-1B  are perspective views of a trash can assembly according to some embodiments of the present invention. Assembly  100 A can include container body  107  defining a chamber with an open end. Container body  107  may be shaped in a rectangular form, a circular form, an oval form, or other applicable forms. In one embodiment container body  107  may include outer container casing with handle openings  113  to facilitate hand carriage. 
         [0015]    Assembly  100 A may include lid  103  hingedly coupled with container body  107 , for example, via lid base  105 . Lid  103  may be positioned close to the open end of container body  107 . In one embodiment, lid base  105  may be attached to lid  103  via hinge mechanism  111  or other applicable mechanism to allow lid  103  to move opening or closing the open end of container body  107 . Alternatively, lid  103  may be directly coupled with container body  107  without a separate lid base. 
         [0016]    Lid  103  may include a handle bar or handle structure  101  movably attached with lid  103  to provide a versatile or multi-functional handle for a user to operate assembly  100 . Handle structure  101  may be shaped as a bar, a rod, or other applicable longitudinal shape. In one embodiment, handle structure  101  may include pull out opening  109  to allow a user to operate assembly  100  by pushing/pulling handle structure  101 . 
         [0017]    According to certain embodiments, lid  103  may be configured with multiple receiving structures to accommodate handle structure  101 . For example, handle structure  101  may be stored within lid  103  with a longitudinal direction substantially parallel to a surface plane of lid  103 . During operation, handle structure  101  may be repositioned with its longitudinal direction substantially perpendicular to the surface plane of lid  103  to be either pulled to open lid  103  or pushed to compact inner chamber of container body  107 . 
         [0018]    Turning now to  FIG. 1B , assembly  100 B may include portions of assembly  100 A of  FIG. 1A . For example handle structure  101  may include front opening  225 , one or more guide slots  201  on both sides. Stop structure  203  may be configured toward a longitudinal end opposite to front end  225 . 
         [0019]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of a trash can assembly according to one embodiment of the present invention as shown in  FIG. 1 . Assembly  200  may include lid  103  configured with multiple receiving structures for handle structure  101 . For example, a horizontal recess  223  may be defined across the top portion of lid  103  for fittingly housing handle structure  101 . Recess  223  may be shaped to match handle structure  101 . For example, handle structure  101  may be longitudinally aligned with both ends of recess  223 . 
         [0020]    In one embodiment, a receiving structure may include central opening  211  sized to allow handle structure  101  to move in and out longitudinally for trash can operation. For example, central opening  211  may be sized to match a cross section dimension of handle structure  101  to allow one longitudinal end of handle structure  101  to move transversely across lid  103  via central opening  211 . In some embodiments, recess  223  may include sliding tracks  205  to allow handle structure  101  to slide into or out of recess  223 . 
         [0021]    Assembly  200  may include compacting plate  213  coupled with handle structure  101  through central opening  211  of lid  103 . Handle structure  101  may be operable to pull compacting plate  213  via central opening  211  to push open lid  103 . Alternatively, handle structure  101  may be operable to push compacting plate  213  to compact the chamber of container body  107  via central opening  211 . 
         [0022]    In one embodiment, handle structure  101  may be configured with stop structure  203  towards one longitudinal end. Recess  223  (e.g. a receiving structure) may be shaped with a corresponding stop wall  209  matching stop structure  203 . For example, handle structure  101  may be stopped when sliding into recess  223  via stop structure  203  to a secure position within lid  103 . 
         [0023]    In certain embodiments, compacting plate  213  and handle structure  101  may be coupled via one or more sliding pins  215  affixed over a back side of compacting plate  213 . Handle structure  101  may include one or more longitudinal guide slots  201  to movably house sliding pins  215 . Each sliding pin  215  may be movably constrained within one of the guide slots  210 . 
         [0024]    Compacting plate  213  may include one or more pull arms  217 , e.g. substantially vertically standing, on its back side. Each sliding pin  215  may be affixed towards the tip of one of pull arms  217 . For example, two sliding pins  215  may be positioned in between a pair of pull arms  217 . In one embodiment, pull arms  217  may be sized to be insertable through central opening  211  to engage sliding pins  215  within guide slots  201  of handle structure  101 . Guide slot  201  may be defined along handle structure  101  to extend between one longitudinal end (e.g. opposite to pull out opening  109 ) of handle structure  101  and a central portion (e.g. towards pull out opening  109 ). Compacting plate  219  may be vertically supported under lid  103  by hanging from handle structure  101  via sliding pins  215 . 
         [0025]    In one embodiment, handle structure  101  may be rotable to be received by lid  103  via recess  223  or central opening  211  when sliding pins  215  are engaged within guide slots  201  towards one end of handle structure  101 . For example, handle structure  101  may be positioned with one end close to central opening  211  along recess  223  to allow rotating around an axis formed via sliding pins  215 . As a result, handle structure  101  may be repositioned to be vertically or horizontally engaged with lid  103  (e.g. over a surface plane of lid  103 ). 
         [0026]    When handle structure  101  is attached to lid  103  via central opening  211 , pulling force exerted on handle structure  101  (e.g. via pull out opening  109 ) with sliding pins  215  engaged at the longitudinal end of guide slots  201  may cause compacting plate  213  to push open lid  103 . Compacting plate  213  may include push protrusion  219  defined over its back side to receive a longitudinal end with front opening  225  of handle structure  101 . 
         [0027]    Pushing force exerted on handle structure  101  inserted through central opening  211  may cause compacting plate  213  to compress the chamber of container body  107  via push protrusion  219  engaged with front opening  225  of handle structure  101 . Compacting plate  213  may be sized substantially conforming to the inner dimension of container body  107  to prohibit lid  103  from being opened when push protrude  219  is engaged with front opening  225  of handle structure  101 . 
         [0028]    In another embodiment, lid base  105  may have an opening at open end  229 . Lid  103  may be hingedly coupled with lid base  105  adjacent to open end  229 . Lid  103  can have horizontal receiving structure  223  and central opening  221  transversely defined across horizontal receiving structure  223 . Handle bar  101  may be movably attached to lid  103  via horizontal receiving structure  223  or central opening  221 . Compacting plate  213  may be coupled with handle bar  101  through central opening  211  of lid  103 . 
         [0029]    Handle bar  101  may be operable to pull open lid  103  or to push compacting plate  213  towards an opposite direction of open end  229  (e.g. downward). Handle bar  101  may be fittingly stored within horizontal receiving structure  223  of lid  103 . Container body  107  may define a chamber. Lid base  103  may be attached on top of container body  107  with the chamber open towards open end  229  of lid base  103 . The chamber of container body  107  may be compacted or compressed when compacting plate  213  is pushed via handle bar  101  through central opening  211 . 
         [0030]      FIGS. 3A-3E  show an exemplary sequence of operation for a trash can assembly according to one embodiment of the present invention, such as assembly  100  of  FIG. 1 . Sequence  300  may illustrate exemplary configurations of an assembly embodiment which may be operable in various other applicable sequences and/or configurations. Turning now to  FIG. 3A , handle structure  101  may be stored seamlessly within a horizontal receiving structure of lid  103 . In  FIG. 3B , handle structure  101  may be pulled sliding out of lid  103  horizontally from a pull end (e.g. a longitudinal end close to pull out opening  109 ) until the other longitudinal end (or the far end) of handle structure  101  substantially aligned with central opening  211  of lid  103 . 
         [0031]    In  FIG. 3C , central opening of lid  3  may allow handle structure  101  to be rotated with the pull end vertically away from the surface of lid  3 . The rotation may be made possible with space provided via the central opening for an axis formed at the far end (or front end) of handle structure  101 . Coupling mechanism between handle structure  101  and compacting place  213  may prohibit handle structure  101  from being rotatable if the front end of handle structure  101  is positioned at a location other than substantially close to central opening  211 . In  FIG. 3D , handle structure  101  may be positioned substantially perpendicular to the surface plane of lid  103  to be received into the central opening  221 . When pushed, handle bar  101  may cause compacting plate  213  to compress storage chamber of container body  107  in  FIG. 3E . 
         [0032]      FIG. 4  shows exemplary configurations to operate a trash can assembly according to one embodiment of the present invention, such as assembly  100  of  FIG. 1 . For example, trash can assembly may be closed with handle structure  101  stored within lid  103  in configuration  401 . Lid  103  may be opened with the front surface of compacting plate  213  affixed with the inner surface of lid  103  in configuration  403 . 
         [0033]    In one embodiment, lid  103  may be prohibited from being opened without handle structure  101  attached via specific positions to lid  103 . For example, handle structure  101  may be attached to lid  103  to pull close compacting plate  213  with lid  103 , such as in configuration  401 , to allow lid  103  to be opened. Compacting plate  213  pushed down into the chamber of container  107  may prevent lid  103  from being opened. Configuration  405  shows lid  103 , lid base  105  and container body  107  disassembled from each other. 
         [0034]    Many modifications and other embodiments of the invention set forth herein will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which the invention pertains having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing description and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed and that modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.