Patent Publication Number: US-2017361186-A1

Title: Trash Tender

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Provisional Patent Application No. 62/350,953, filed by Mark Wolters on Jun. 6, 2016. 
    
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not Applicable. 
     REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISC APPENDIX 
     Not Applicable. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A basketball hoop has previously been used as a target for items tossed into a waste basket. People of all ages can enjoy trying to ‘score’ while cleaning up at the same time. However, scoring targets from other sports haven&#39;t been used in this manner. This device offers the user the opportunity to create a sports-style goal onto a waste basket, thereby allowing the user to ‘score’ by tossing trash into the waste basket through the goal. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This device uses the goal targets from sports, including hockey, soccer and football, to create a defined target area for items tossed into the waste basket. Effectively, users attempt to “score a goal” by tossing items into the waste basket within the confines of the scoring frame. For hockey, soccer or other games with a similar defined goal, a properly-dimensioned goal is clipped onto a standard-sized waste basket. For football, properly-dimensioned field goal posts are clipped onto a standard-sized waste basket. Other sports goals are likewise adapted to clip onto a standard-sized waste basket. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
         FIG. 1 . Front view of sample hockey goal. The black-lined portion represents the lip of the waste basket and does not form any part of the device. 
         FIG. 2 . Back view of sample hockey goal. The black-lined portion represents the lip of the waste basket and does not form any part of the device. 
         FIG. 3 . Side view of sample hockey goal. The black-lined portion represents the lip of the waste basket and does not form any part of the device. 
         FIG. 4 . Top view of sample hockey goal. The black-lined portion represents the lip of the waste basket and does not form any part of the device. 
         FIG. 5 . Close-up view of the netting attachment points. 
         FIG. 6 . Front view of sample soccer goal. The black-lined portion represents the lip of the waste basket and does not form any part of the device. 
         FIG. 7 . Back view of sample soccer goal. The black-lined portion represents the lip of the waste basket and does not form any part of the device. 
         FIG. 8 . Side view of sample soccer goal. The black-lined portion represents the lip of the waste basket and does not form any part of the device. 
         FIG. 9 . Top view of sample soccer goal. The black-lined portion represents the lip of the waste basket and does not form any part of the device. 
         FIG. 10 . Front view of sample football field goal posts. The black-lined portion represents the lip of the waste basket and does not form any part of the device. 
         FIG. 11 . Back view of sample football field goal posts. The black-lined portion represents the lip of the waste basket and does not form any part of the device. 
         FIG. 11 . Side view of sample football field goal posts. The black-lined portion represents the lip of the waste basket and does not form any part of the device. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     This device is designed to turn the job of tossing waste into a waste basket into a fun activity. The device is clipped onto a waste basket, preferably one of a standard size. The device is in the shape of a sports goal. For hockey, the device is in the shape of a hockey goal. For soccer, the device is in the shape of a soccer goal. For football, the device is in the shape of field goal posts. For other sports, the device is in the shape of the goal used in that sport. 
     For hockey, the device is constructed in the same dimensions as a conventional hockey goal, with a 3:2 width-to-height ratio. The frame ( 1 ) is made of a suitable material of sufficient strength so as to remain rigid and in place, even when struck by objects being tossed into the waste basket. Netting is used to enclose the targeted area. 
     For soccer, the device is constructed in the same dimensions as a conventional soccer net, with a 3:1 width-to-height ratio. The frame ( 2 ) is made of a suitable material of sufficient strength so as to remain rigid and in place, even when struck by objects being tossed into the waste basket. Netting is used to enclose the targeted area. 
     For football, the device is constructed in the same dimensions as conventional football field goal posts. The posts ( 3 ) are made of a suitable material of sufficient strength so as to remain rigid and in place, even when struck by objects being tossed into the waste basket. 
     The device may be altered in design to meet the dimensions of goals or nets for other sports. 
     Fastening devices ( 4 ) are used to affix the invention to a standard-sized waste basket. In its preferred embodiment, these fastening devices ( 4 ) allow the user to clip the device to the lip of a waste basket. 
     In its preferred embodiment, the device is designed to be affixed atop a standard 7-gallon waste basket, which can be found in any major office or home supply store. 
     The frame of the net is made of a rigid material, preferably plastic, though the net frame can also be formed out of other materials such as wood or metal. 
     The netting is a natural or synthetic fiber designed to prevent the passage through of waste tossed into the device. 
     The frame has small attachment points ( 5 ) to hold the netting in place. Once in place, the net provides a target for waste tossed into the waste basket.