Patent Publication Number: US-2003226846-A1

Title: Apparatus for covering refuse receptacles

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
     [0001] This application is related to, and claims the priority benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/386,611, filed Jun. 5, 2002. 
    
    
     
       TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0002] The present invention is directed to refuse receptacles and, more particularly, to covers to be used with refuse receptacles.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0003] Recently, curbside recycle bins have become commonplace in residential communities. Much like regular refuse collection containers, recyclable refuse containers are generally placed outside individual dwellings for collection and disposal according to a community&#39;s established schedule. The primary distinction between regular refuse and recyclable refuse is in their respective containers.  
       [0004] Recycle bins theoretically contain only those items made from recyclable materials, such as cardboard, plastics, glass, and aluminum. Unlike regular refuse containers, which typically have matching lids, recycle bins are not currently adapted with any mechanism or apparatus for securing the recyclable items within the bin. This absence of a lid or securing apparatus allows the recyclable items to freely overflow from a container filled to or beyond capacity. Furthermore, recyclable refuse placed outdoors for collection is subject to outdoor elements, most notably, wind. Consequently, recyclable refuse oftentimes is not actually contained within these recycle bins while awaiting collection and disposal. While recycling programs represent an admirable effort with regard to environmental protection, their purpose is obviously defeated in cases where the recyclable refuse, placed in curbside bins for collection, is not actually contained within the bins, but instead becomes wind-blown litter.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0005] A container cover for use with containers, such as refuse containers and more particularly, recycle containers, secures items, such as recyclable items, within the containers. This container cover includes, for example, a mesh material bordered with a flexible, elastic cord. The container cover is adapted to be placed over the opening of an otherwise uncovered container, such as a recycle bin. In one embodiment, the elastic cord has an adjustable cinch clasp allowing adaptation of the container cover to containers of various sizes and shapes. In another embodiment, the container cover includes a quick release handle that allows a person emptying the container to quickly remove the container cover. In yet another embodiment, the container cover includes a mechanism that enables the cover to be permanently secured to the container. These foregoing embodiments remedy the shortcomings described above with regard to uncovered, conventional containers, such as recycle bins. The container cover both covers and firmly fixes refuse in containers filled to and beyond capacity, preventing free overflow of waste. Furthermore, by covering and securing the items in a bin, this container cover prevents waste from becoming wind blown litter. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0006] The features and advantages of the container cover described herein will be best appreciated upon reference to the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings, in which:  
     [0007]FIG. 1 illustrates a flexible cover for a container, such as a recycle bin; and  
     [0008]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the container cover of FIG. 1 secured over the opening of a conventional recycle bin. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
     [0009] A container cover  8  is illustrated in FIG. 1 as including, among other things, a rectangular shaped, mesh material  10 . Typically, the perimeter of the mesh material  10  is larger than the top of a container which the container cover  8  is intended to cover. A border  11  of the mesh material  10  may be folded over and sewn to form a seam  12  having four distinct sections corresponding to each side of the rectangular shaped, mesh material  10 . Construction of the seam  12  in FIG. 1 is such that the seam  12  does not run continuously around the corners of the mesh material  10 , but instead, sections of the mesh material  10  are cut at each corner so that the seam  12  stops and starts at each corner. However, the seam  12  could run continuously around the perimeter of the mesh material  10 .  
     [0010] A linear, flexible elastic cord  14  is housed within the seam  12 . Due to the construction of the seam  12  in four distinct sections, portions of the elastic cord  14  are exposed at the corners of the mesh material  10 . The elastic cord  14 , which may be longer than the perimeter of the mesh material  10 , has two end segments  17  that extend out from the seam  12 . An adjustable, spring loaded cinch clasp  16  is disposed on and accepts the elastic cord  14  so as to secure the end segments  17  together and to allow for adjustment of the length and tension of the elastic cord  14  within the seam  12 . In particular, opening and moving the adjustable cinch clasp  16  along the elastic cord  14  towards the mesh material  10  decreases the length of the elastic cord  14  housed within the seam  12  and increases the length of the end segments  17  of the elastic cord  14  extending out from the seam  12 . In this manner, the size of the container cover  8  is adjustable to accommodate containers of numerous sizes and shapes.  
     [0011] The container cover  8  may also include a quick release handle  18  that extends out from the seam  12 , the mesh material  10 , or preferably, the elastic cord  14  exposed at one of the corners of the mesh material  10 . The quick release handle  18  may be made of fabric, such as polyester or canvas, folded over and sewn in two places so as to include a seam disposed in the fabric for housing the elastic cord  14 . In this manner, the quick release handle  18  includes a doubled-over fabric that is attached to the container cover  8  by way of the elastic cord  14  exposed at one of the corners of the mesh material  10 . The quick release handle  18  can be used to quickly remove the container cover  8  from atop a container (not shown).  
     [0012] A securing mechanism  20  capable of permanently securing the container cover  8  to a container may also be attached at, for example, the perimeter of the container cover  8 . The securing mechanism  20  may be a plastic tie capable of forming a loop that functions in combination with a hole disposed in a wall of a container to permanently attach the container cover  8  to the wall of the container. The securing mechanism  20  is illustrated in FIG. 1 as a linear, plastic tie that can be fastened to form a one-way-adjustable loop. The securing mechanism  20  may be attached anywhere on the container cover  8 , for instance, to the mesh material  10 , to the seam  12  of the mesh material  10 , or preferably, to the elastic cord  14  exposed at one of the corners of the mesh material  10 .  
     [0013]FIG. 2 illustrates the container cover  8  depicted in FIG. 1 when mounted on a container  21 . Operating in conjunction, the elastic cord  14  and the adjustable cinch clasp  16  provide the container cover  8  with an adjustable opening capable of expanding over containers of varying sizes and shapes, whether empty or filled beyond capacity. When expanded to stretch over the opening of a conventional recycle bin, the elastic cord  14  functions to secure the container cover  8  firmly around the walls  22  of the container  21 , therefore securing any items, such as recyclable items, inside the container  21 . The container cover  8  is best suited to containers having a lip  23  under which the elastic cord  14  and seam  12  can be secured with the lip  23  preventing the elastic cord  14  from slipping over the top of the container  21 . Accordingly, the free overflow of waste is prevented.  
     [0014] The quick release handle  18  attached at, for example, the perimeter of the container cover  8 , allows for quick and easy removal of the container cover  8  from atop the container  21 . When the container cover  8  is in use, e.g., covering an otherwise open container  21 , one may simply pull the handle  18  to stretch the elastic cord  14  and thereby expand the seam  12  of the mesh material  10  out from the walls  22  of the container  21  and then lift and remove the container cover  8  from atop the container  21 . This aspect of the container cover  8  allows a person emptying the container  21  to quickly and easily remove the container cover  8  from the container  21  in a nominal amount of time, without having to manipulate the adjustable cinch clasp  16 .  
     [0015] The securing mechanism  20  is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 as a plastic tie that functions in combination with a hole  24  in one of the walls  22  or the lip  23  of the container  21  to permanently attach the container cover  8  to the container  21 . In particular, the tie is disposed through the hole  24  and around the elastic cord  14  exposed at one of the corners of the mesh material  10 . The securing mechanism  20 , in the form of a plastic tie, may then be fastened to form a loop thereby securing the container cover  8  to the container  21  in a permanent manner and yet allowing the cover  8  to be removed from and disposed over the top of the container  21 . By securing the container cover  8  to the container  21 , the owner can be certain that the container cover  8 , once removed from atop the container  21 , will stay attached to the container  21 , rather than lost or thrown away by the person emptying the container  21 , or alternatively, blown away.  
     [0016] While the basic components and structure of a container cover  8  are described in detail above, it should be understood by one skilled in the art that numerous modifications can be made without departing from the sprit and scope of the invention. For example, the mesh material  10  may be any flexible material including netting, woven polyester or nylon, canvas, felt, plastic, etc. This material need not be a mesh material but could be solid or otherwise perforated in any other manner. Further, the mesh material  10  need not be rectangular in shape, but could be any shape, such as circular or square. Likewise, the quick release handle  18  may be made of any suitable fabric. Alternatively, the quick release handle  18  may be made of a rigid material, such as plastic, and may include a gripping contour disposed in the material. In addition, the elastic cord  14  housed by the seam  12  of the mesh material  10  may instead be woven through the mesh material  10  or a comparable fabric. In another embodiment, the elastic cord  14  may be secured within the seam  12 , such as by sewing the elastic cord  14  housed within the seam  12  to the mesh material  10 . Further, the ends of the elastic cord  14  may be housed within the seam  12  of the mesh material  10  rather than disposed through the cinch clasp  16  at the corner of the mesh material  10 . In this case, the cinch clasp  16  would operate in the same manner as described above; however, the elastic cord  14  on which the cinch clasp  16  operates would run continuously through the cinch clasp  16  while the ends of the elastic cord  14  would remain housed within the seam  12 . Alternatively, the end segments  17  of the elastic cord  14 , which accept the cinch clasp  16 , may be connected to form a loop by, for example, sewing the ends together. While the elastic cord  14  is illustrated herein as a typical circular cross-sectional material, it could, alternatively, be any other elastic material such as an elastic band sewn or otherwise attached to the mesh material  10 . In addition, any other structures that would allow alteration of the length of the elastic cord  14  housed within the seam  12  of the mesh material  10  could be substituted for the single cinch clasp  16  shown as disposed on and accepting both ends of the elastic cord  14 . For example, a cinch clasp could be disposed on one end of the elastic cord  14  while the other end of the elastic cord  14  is secured to the mesh material  10 . Alternatively, a separate cinch clasp could be placed on each end of the elastic cord  14 . Further, the securing mechanism  20  may be made of plastic, metal wire, fabric, etc. Alternatively, rather than functioning in combination with a hole  24  drilled in the wall  22  of the container  21 , the securing mechanism  20  may be made of any material disposed on the container cover  8  that is capable of attaching to the container  21  using, for example, a snap or a button disposed on the wall  22  of the container  21 . Likewise, any adhesive means, such as Velcro, i.e., hook and loop fastener, may be utilized for securing the container cover  8  to the container  21 . In this manner, one piece of Velcro may be attached to the container  21 , with, for example, adhesive, while the corresponding piece of Velcro may be attached to the container cover  8 , with, for example, stitching or sewing.  
     [0017] Thus, while the present invention has been described with reference to specific examples, which are intended to be illustrative only and not to be limiting of the invention, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that changes, additions or deletions may be made to the disclosed embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.