Abstract:
A device for keeping trash receptacles from being knocked or blown over comprises a rigid vertical rod assembly to which a trash receptacle is gravitationally engaged, and a spike assembly frictionally secured to the ground. The device may comprise one unit or two separable mating parts.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
     This invention is a novel portable rigid support device and method for keeping portable receptacles, e.g., trash containers, upright. Particularly with regard to trash containers, the problem of dogs and other animals pushing them over and spreading the trash around is well known. This is unsightly, presents a health hazard, and is a nuisance to clean up. 
     In recent years, many localities have mandated the use of high-capacity (e.g., 90 gallon) roll-away receptacles that can be dumped by a special truck. These vessels hold more trash and create an even larger mess if knocked over. These larger trash cans usually have a lower aspect ratio (base width to height) than smaller ones, as well as a larger lateral surface area, and can therefore be blown over more easily by wind gusts. There is thus a need for a convenient way to stabilize waste receptacles against side forces. 
     This invention relates primarily to the field of supports, and more specifically to releasable supports. It also relates to receptacles, more specifically to portable receptacles, and still more specifically to their stability and spill prevention. It relates collaterally therefore to neighborhood aesthetics, environmental protection, and public health. Because of the invention&#39;s potential visibility, it also relates to the field of safety and navigational markers and indicia. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     The first embodiment of the invention is a unitary, shaped rod structure which is secured by hand or foot to the ground in a location where a receptacle is to be temporarily located. When desired, the receptacle then can be fixedly secured to the structure by hand in an upright orientation. A second embodiment of the invention comprises not only a shaped rod structure secured to the ground, but another shaped rod structure secured to the receptacle. The rod structures are designed to engage each other temporarily in a fixed and rigid manner when the receptacle is positioned to maintain the receptacle in an upright orientation. 
     The object of this invention is to provide a convenient and inexpensive way to secure waste cans against tipping over by anchorage to the ground. It is a further object of the invention to provide these features in a form that is easy to install and easy to relocate. Yet another object of the invention is to accomplish these objects with minimal interference with vehicular traffic such as lawn mowers. An additional object of the invention is to allow it to provide the function of a visual marker (e.g., driveway marker) in combination with the foregoing. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the first embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a front view of the first embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is a side view of the first embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a top view of the first embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 5 is a front view of the first embodiment of the present invention with a common trash can installed on it. 
     FIG. 6 is a side view of the first embodiment of the present invention with a common trash can installed on it. 
     FIG. 7 is a front view of the first embodiment of the present invention with a roll-away trash receptacle installed on it. 
     FIG. 8 is a side view of the first embodiment of the present invention with a roll-away trash receptacle installed on it. 
     FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9 a  is a perspective view of the second embodiment showing plural spike portions. 
     FIG. 10 is a front view of the second embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 11 is a side view of the second embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 12 is a top view of the second embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 13 is an exploded perspective view of the second embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 14 is a front view of the second embodiment of the present invention with a roll-away trash receptacle installed on it. 
     FIG. 15 is a side view of the second embodiment of the present invention with a roll-away trash receptacle installed on it. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring now in greater detail to the drawings, in which like alphanumeric characters correspond to like features in all of the figures, FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the first embodiment of the present invention. It comprises a rod of rigid material formed into three sides of a rectangle having a top  101 , a right side  102 , and a left side  103 . Top  101  serves as a head over which a downward-facing cavity on a receptacle (such as a trash can handle or lift pocket) can be secured. Rigidly attached to sides  102  and  103  at intermediate points A and A′ is a rigid elongate stirrup  104 . The portion of side  102  extending below the stirrup  104  is a right spike  105  and a left spike  106 . Optionally, portions  107  of the top  101  and/or sides  102  and  103  can be made visually more distinctive by coloration, application of reflective coating material, or by application of a reflective device  108 , to contrast with the normal outdoor environment. This makes the invention easier to see, thereby reducing the potential for striking the invention with other objects (e.g., vehicles) and permitting it to double as a driveway marker in cases where the trash receptacle is posted for pickup near the end of a driveway. 
     FIG. 2 is a front view of the first embodiment of the present invention. If a person holds top  101  in hand, places the lower ends of spikes  105  and  106  in contact with the ground, and presses with sufficient force on stirrup  104 , spikes  105  and  106  will be forced toward ground level B-B′. Further pressure on stirrup  104  will cause it to descend until it comes substantially into contact with the ground. The invention can be moved to another location by pulling up on top  101  to slide the invention out of the ground. 
     FIG. 3 is a side view of the first embodiment of the present invention showing that all parts are coplanar. Only right side  102  is visible. 
     FIG. 4 is a top view of the first embodiment of the present invention. Only top  101  is visible. 
     FIG. 5 is a front view of the first embodiment of the present invention with a common trash can  201  installed on it. A feature common to most trash cans is the presence of matching handles on either side of it near the top edge  202 . Only the front-facing handle  203  is shown. The handles typically have a portion spaced away from the can wall creating a cavity  204 . This cavity  204 , created on three sides by the handle  203  and the wall of the trash can  201 , has a vertical axis, and it is typically open at least on the bottom (the end of the cavity facing the ground) to receive the fingers of the person handling it and may be closed over on top. To assure that the trash can is held in a vertical position, cavity  204  in handle  203  is fitted over top  101  of the invention, and trash can  201  is allowed to slide down until can bottom  205  rests at ground level B-B′. If the cavity  204  is closed on top (not shown) the trash can may hang by top  101 . 
     FIG. 6 is a side view of the first embodiment of the present invention with a common trash can  201  installed on it. 
     FIG. 7 is a front view of the first embodiment of the present invention with a roll-away trash receptacle  701  installed on it. Such receptacles typically comprise a substantially rectangular box  702  with a hinged lid  703 , a sealed bottom  704 , side stiffeners  708 , and two wheels  705   a  and  705   b . The wheels are typically on adjacent rear bottom corners so that the receptacle can be tilted onto them and rolled to a spot where a garbage truck (not shown) can lift it and dump it. It is desirable, though not necessary, for the garbage truck to lower the receptacle onto the present invention after dumping. 
     Roll-away receptacles typically further comprise a recess  706  in the lower front with a retainer  707  rigidly attached across the open side of the recess. The recess  706  and retainer  707  define a downward-facing cavity  709 . The receptacle  701  can be held in a vertical position by the present invention if the person moving the receptacle places retainer  707  over the top  101  of the invention. This is accomplished by tilting the receptacle back on its wheels and rolling the receptacle up to the invention until the recess comes into contact with sides  102  and  103  of the present invention. The receptacle is then tipped back into a vertical position while allowing the invention to slide upward within the cavity  709 . When the invention is used with the roll-away receptacle, sides  102  and  103  on this embodiment will be generally shorter than they will be when used with the trash can of FIG. 6, so that the length of sides  102  and  103  can be provided in two or more lengths to work cooperatively with two or more common types of trash receptacles. 
     FIG. 8 is a right side view of the first embodiment of the present invention with a roll-away trash receptacle installed on it. It more clearly shows cavity  709  formed by recess  706  and retainer  707 . 
     FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the present invention. It comprises an upper fork portion  901  and a lower spike portion  902 . The upper portion comprises a top  101 , stirrup  104 , and sides  102  and  103  as in the first embodiment, but instead of ground-engaging spikes, it comprises horizontal forks  903  and  904 . Stirrup  104  is no longer used to push the device into the ground but instead serves as a stiffener for the upper portion  901 . The purpose of the second embodiment is twofold: one, to allow the removal of the visible portion of the apparatus (the upper fork portion  901 ) for aesthetic purposes and/or so that a vehicle (typically a lawn mower) can be run over the lower spike portion  902  without striking it; and two, to permit the use of one upper fork portion  901  with a plurality of lower spike portions  902  which can be fixed permanently into the ground at a plurality of locations for secure vertical positioning of a receptacle. 
     The lower spike portion  902  of this embodiment comprises a horizontal cross piece  905  which join vertical ground engaging spikes  105  and  106 . The spike portion  902  is pushed into the ground at an appropriate location by foot pressure on cross piece  905  until cross piece  905  is close enough to ground level B-B′ so as to provide a narrow space  906  between it and the ground. To assure that the receptacle is held in a vertical position, forks  903  and  904  are slid underneath cross piece  905  which is secured to the ground. 
     FIG. 9 a  shows how a plurality of lower spike portions  902  may be inserted into the ground parallel to one another at two or more places along the forks  903  and  904 , if desired to provide additional vertical stability. 
     FIG. 10 is a front view of the second embodiment of the present invention, showing that forks  903  and  904  are positioned below cross piece  905  but on ground level B-B′. 
     FIG. 11 is a side view of the second embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 12 is a top view of the second embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 13 is an exploded perspective view of the second embodiment more clearly showing the two separate parts of the present invention, upper fork part  901  and lower spike part  902 . An optional alternative lower spike part  1301  may further comprise a stop bar  1302  parallel to cross piece  905 , defining a space  906  between the stop bar  1302  and cross piece  905 . The vertical width of the space  906  is such as to accommodate forks  903  and  904 . The stop bar  1302  serves to prevent driving the optional lower spike part  1301  too far into the ground, as well as providing additional stiffness for the lower spike part  1301 . 
     FIG. 14 is a front view of the second embodiment of the present invention with a roll-away trash receptacle installed on it. Note that upper part  901  is located between recess  706  and retainer  707  on receptacle  701 . 
     FIG. 15 is a side view of the second embodiment of the present invention with a roll-away trash receptacle installed on it.