Patent Publication Number: US-7219602-B2

Title: Can collection catch bin for use with aluminum can compacting mechanism

Description:
This Application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/591,671, filed Jul. 28, 2004. 

   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention relates generally to mechanisms for compacting objects and to accessory items for such mechanisms. More particularly, it relates to a can collection catch bin for use with an aluminum can compacting mechanism, which mechanism is manually actuated by a user and which uses gravity to discharge the compacted can from the mechanism and to collect the discharged can neatly within the catch bin. It also particularly relates to an improvement to a compacting mechanism of prior specific construction. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   In the experience of this inventor, the ability to recycle objects has become a necessity for the preservation of resources for our future generations. Recycling of virtually anything that can be recycled has become a way of life in our energy-conscious society. No less important in this regard is the lowly, but always present, aluminum can. The aluminum can is found virtually everywhere that beverages are sold or distributed. And, unfortunately, discarded aluminum cans are equally ready to find. Accordingly, a movement has been taking place to manufacture, distribute and sell aluminum can crushing and compacting mechanisms which can be readily purchased and used by the consuming public. One such mechanism is disclosed in this inventor&#39;s U.S. Pat. No. 6,076,455. 
   The inventor&#39;s prior aluminum can compacting mechanism, as disclosed and claimed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,076,455, is a relatively compact, wall-mountable, easy to use, and commercially available device. That device utilizes a can retaining means into which the user or consumer manually places the aluminum can which is intended to be compacted. A lever is actuated and the aluminum can is compacted between two compacting plates. In the can compacting mechanisms of the prior art, the lever is then reversed and the compacted can is manually removed from the device. Because this last step of this process can be an unpleasant one due to the presence of beverage residue which often accompanies such cans, and because it is a completely unnecessary step in his eyes, this inventor sought to eliminate it by construction of a device where the compacted can is automatically dropped from the device. That device is disclosed and claimed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,076,455. 
   Another result intended to be accomplished by the device disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,076,455, is that the handle be stopped in its downward rotation so as to prevent pinch points within the device, a particularly important feature where the device is used by small children. 
   Although this device works well, what is needed is a convenient way to collect compacted cans as they are discharged from the aluminum can compacting mechanism as previously described. In particular, there is a need to provide a collection means that is conveniently and attractively located immediately beneath the subject can compacting mechanism. In the view of this inventor, the collection means should be functionally adapted to be removably attachable to the can compacting device of prior disclosure. This would ensure the inadvertent detachment of the collection means from the can compacting mechanism except where detachment was desired or required by the user. The collection means should be functionally adapted so as not to interfere with the operation of the prior can compacting mechanism, and particularly with regard to the full motion of the handle through its use cycle. The collection means should also be attractive in the accumulation, but not display, of unsightly compacted cans as they are collected. In this way, a can compacting mechanism that might otherwise be relegated to use in the garage, the basement, or some other location where it is generally out-of-sight, can be located in a kitchen, a utility room, or other area of a home or dwelling where it is more likely to be used than not. The collection means should also be self-contained and cleanable to collect and allow the removal of any residue that may otherwise escape from the compacted cans. In this way, the collection means can be dishwasher cleaned as such is desired or required. Finally, the collection means should come in a variety of sizes, depending upon the intended rate of accumulation as desired by the user. 
   Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and useful compacted can collection catch bin that can be easily used by a consumer with an aluminum can compacting mechanism of prior invention, which catch bin has a minimal number of parts and requires only a minimal number of steps to use. It is another object of the present invention to provide such a can collection catch bin that is conveniently locatable immediately beneath the aluminum can compacting mechanism of prior invention. It is yet another object of the present invention to provide such a can collection catch bin that is functionally adapted to be removably attachable to the can compacting device of prior invention. It is still another object of the present invention to provide such a can collection catch bin that includes means for preventing the inadvertent detachment of the catch bin from the can compacting mechanism except where detachment was desired or required by the user. It is a further object of the present invention to provide such a can collection catch bin that does not interfere with the operation of the prior can compacting mechanism, and particularly with regard to the full motion of the handle through its compression cycle. It is still another object of the present invention to provide such a can collection catch bin that is attractive in the accumulation, but not display, of unsightly compacted cans as they are collected so that the catch bin is more likely to be used in a kitchen or utility room setting rather than hidden away in a garage or basement. It is another object of the present invention to provide such a can collection catch bin that can be fabricated in a one-piece, unitary construction and be self-contained and cleanable to collect and allow the removal of any residue that may escape from the compacted cans. It is yet another object of the present invention to provide such a can collection catch bin that can be fabricated in a variety of sizes, depending upon the intended rate of accumulation as desired by the user, and be made to be dishwasher safe for occasional cleaning. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The can collection catch bin of the present invention has obtained these objects. It provides for a main collection catch bin body that is integrally formed of a front wall, a back wall and opposing sidewalls. The collection catch bin body is symmetrical about a central axis and unitary in construction. Downwardly from the front wall, back wall and side walls is a floor. In the preferred embodiment, the walls and floor are integrally formed into a single structure. Upwardly from the floor, the side walls are tapered inwardly towards a body neck and opening. The uppermost portion of the front and back walls also terminate at the body neck and opening. The body neck is, in cross section, a generally rectangular-shaped structure and the body opening is a generally rectangular-shaped aperture located at the uppermost portion of the body neck and through which compacted cans are intended to pass as they drop by gravity from between the compression plates of the can compacting mechanism of prior invention. Additionally, the front wall includes a handle for conveniently grasping the catch bin by hand for removing it from the compacting mechanism of prior invention and allowing the user to empty its contents without requiring any direct contact with the compacted cans. The taper of and the presence of certain recesses defined within the neck of the catch bin body allow the can compacting mechanism of prior invention to operate through its full compression cycle without impediment and allows the compacted cans to pass through the neck without impingement. The uppermost portion of the catch bin neck also includes securement means comprised of opposing flanges which allow the catch bin to be easily and removably secured to the can compacting mechanism of prior invention. The securement means also includes a positive locking mechanism to prevent inadvertent detachment of the catch bin and provide the user with tactile or visual confirmation that the catch bin is secure in its proper position. 
   The foregoing and other features of the can collection catch bin of the present invention will be apparent from the detailed description that follows. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a front, top and right side perspective view of a can collection catch bin constructed in accordance with the present invention as it would be used when attached to a can compacting mechanism of prior invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a slightly enlarged front, top and right side perspective view of a can collection bin constructed in accordance with the present invention and showing the catch bin detached from the can compacting mechanism. 
       FIG. 3  is a partial view of the catch bin showing the neck and opening of the bin in a can-receiving relation to the compacting mechanism. 
       FIG. 4  is a left side elevational view of the catch bin neck and the compacting mechanism shown in  FIG. 3  and illustrating the compacting mechanism in the fully-down handle compacting position. 
       FIG. 5  is a slightly reduced top plan view of the can collection catch bin illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 6  is a slightly reduced front plan view of the can collection catch bin illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 7  is a slightly reduced right side elevational view of the can collection catch bin shown in  FIG. 1 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   Referring now to the drawings in detail wherein like numbers represent like elements throughout,  FIG. 1  illustrates a can collection catch bin, generally identified  10 , constructed in accordance with the present invention. As shown, the can collection catch bin  10  in the preferred embodiment is a generally hollow structure that is unitary in construction and includes an integrally formed main collection catch bin body  20  comprised of a front wall  30 , a back wall  40  and a pair of opposing sidewalls  50 ,  60 . See also  FIGS. 5 ,  6  and  7 . In the preferred embodiment, the main collection catch bin body  20  is also generally symmetrical about a central axis. Insofar as the unitary can collection catch bin  10  can be blow molded of a plastic material, this symmetry is desireable, but not required, but such symmetry and material of construction is not a limitation of the present invention. 
   The front wall  30  of the hollow catch bin body  20  includes a bottom edge  32 , a pair of side edges  34 ,  36 , and an upper portion  38 . Similarly, the back wall  40  includes a bottom edge  42 , a pair of side edges  44 ,  46 , and an upper portion  48 . See  FIGS. 5 and 6 . 
   The first side wall  50  includes a bottom edge  52 , a pair of side edges  54 ,  56 , and an upper portion  58 . Similarly, the second side wall  60  includes a bottom edge  62 , a pair of side edges  64 ,  66 , and an upper portion  68 . See  FIGS. 5 ,  6  and  7 . 
   The bottom edges  32 ,  42 ,  52 ,  62  of the front wall  30 , back wall  40 , and sidewalls  50 ,  60 , respectively, also form the edges of a catch bin floor  70 . As alluded to, in the unitary construction of the preferred embodiment, the walls  30 ,  40 ,  50 ,  60  and floor  70  are integrally formed into a single structure. 
   Towards the uppermost portion of the main collection catch bin body  20  is a catch bin neck  80 . As shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  3 , it will be seen that the side walls  50 ,  60  are tapered inwardly towards the catch bin neck  80 . In this fashion, the hollow can collection catch bin  10  is functionally adapted to be used with the can compacting mechanism  100  of prior invention. Refer again to  FIG. 1 . As shown, the catch bin neck  80  of the can collection catch bin  10  is functionally adapted to fit between the lowermost portion of the side support members  112 ,  113 . It is to be understood that the inwardly-facing, opposing faces of each of the side support members  112 ,  113  include a generally horizontal groove or slot  132 ,  133  defined within them. See also  FIG. 2 . Each slot  132 ,  133  is functionally adapted to receive a flange  81 ,  82  that is situated to each wall side  50 ,  60  of the neck  80  of the can collection catch bin  10 . In this fashion, the can collection catch bin  10  is slidably receivable within the lowermost portion of the can compacting mechanism  100  of prior invention. With this orientation, a can (shown in phantom view) that has been compacted between the compacting plates  131 ,  141  of the can compacting mechanism  100  of prior invention can, immediately following compaction, drop downwardly and into the can collection catch bin  10  via the catch bin neck  80 . See  FIG. 4 . A number of such compacted cans can be accumulated before the catch bin  10  requires emptying. The size of the catch bin  10  is variable and size is not a limitation of the present invention. Thus, the catch bin  10  can be fabricated in a size to accommodate twenty four compacted cans, or more. 
   Significant in the configuration of the catch bin neck  80  of the hollow can collection catch bin  10  of the present invention is the fact that the neck  80  is, in cross section, a generally rectangular-shaped structure. Similarly, the body opening  84  situated at the uppermost portion of the neck  80  is a generally rectangular-shaped aperture and through which compacted cans are intended to pass as they drop by gravity from between the compacting plates  131 ,  141  of the can compacting mechanism  100  of prior invention. The taper of the catch bin body  20  near the uppermost portion of the front wall  30  creates a pair of recesses  31 ,  33  defined within the catch bin body  20  which allow the can compacting mechanism  100  of prior invention to operate through its full compression cycle without impediment. In the preferred embodiment, the neck  80  is configured of smooth and tapered lines to avoid any impingement of the compacted cans as they drop into the catch bin  10 . See  FIGS. 3 and 4 . In operation, this allows longitudinally extending, parallel handle members  121 ,  122  of the can compacting mechanism  100  to move fully downwardly to the point that each contacts a stop member  114 ,  115 , respectively, of the mechanism  100 , but not the body  20  of the catch bin  10 . Refer again to  FIG. 4 . The relatively smooth lines of the recesses  31 ,  33  prevent any obstacle to a compacted can passing through the neck  80 . 
   In the preferred embodiment, the front wall  30  includes a handle  35  for convenient grasping of the catch bin  10  by hand for removing it from the compacting mechanism  100  of prior invention and allowing the user to empty its contents without requiring any direct contact with the compacted cans. See  FIGS. 3 and 4 . Similarly, the back wall  40  includes a stop member  41  for providing ancillary support of the catch bin  10  when the can compacting mechanism  100  is mounted to a generally vertical wall or other surface  200 . See  FIGS. 4 and 7 . Use of the stop member  41  reduces any torsional force that may be exerted on the flanges  81 ,  82  as the catch bin  10  fills with compacted cans and the weight within the catch bin  10  increases. 
   Though not shown and not required for the purposes of disclosing enablement of the mechanism  100 , the catch bin  10  could be configured with decorative or even seasonal themes to further encourage use of the mechanism  100  and its placement in a position of relatively high visibility. Such is not, however, a limitation of the present invention, but rather a logical extension of it. 
   In application, and referring again more particularly to  FIG. 1 , the user mounts the can compacting mechanism  100  in a location that is desired or required by the user. As alluded to earlier, it is intended that, by concealment of unsightly compacted cans within the catch bin  10 , the combined unit can be mounted in a kitchen, utility room, or other area of the house without the need to conceal the unit in a basement or garage. This is accomplished by the elimination of an ad hoc container for holding the compacted cans in. Once located and mounted, the user inserts the catch bin  10  within the lowermost portion of the can compacting mechanism  100 . This is accomplished by aligning the flanges  81 ,  82  of the catch bin  10  with the slots  132 ,  133 , respectively, of the compacting mechanism  100 . It is to be understood that other interlocking means could be used, or the slots  132 ,  133  could be defined within the catch bin  10  and the flanges  81 ,  82 , or other securement means, could be defined within the compacting mechanism  100  without deviating from the scope of the present invention. It is also to be understood that the securement means could also include a positive locking mechanism to prevent inadvertent detachment of the catch bin and provide the user with tactile or visual confirmation that the catch bin is secure in its proper position. This could be accomplished by use of one or more cooperating bumps and corresponding recesses defined within the securement means. 
   The catch bin  10  is filled with compacted cans during repeated use of the mechanism  100 . Any residue coming from the cans is contained within and is collected by the catch bin  10  and is unobservable by the user. As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the downward motion of the handle members  121 ,  122  of the can compacting mechanism  100  is not impeded due to the presence of the recesses  31 ,  33  to either side of the neck  80 , which neck  80  contains an opening  84  in it for receiving compacted cans therethrough. The compacted cans (again, shown in phantom view) drop, without any encumbrance, into the catch bin  10  due to the smooth lines of the neck  80  and recesses  31 ,  33 . 
   When the catch bin  10  becomes filled to the point that the user wishes to dispose of its contents, which may require a different number of compacted cans depending upon the size of the catch bin  10  desired or required by the user, the user grasps the handle  35  and pulls the catch bin  10  out and away from the wall or vertical surface  200  thereby releasing the flanges  81 ,  82  of the catch bin  10  from the slots  132 ,  133  of the compacting mechanism  100 . See  FIG. 2 . The amount of force to be exerted by the user would also be sufficient to overcome the securement means or positive locking mechanism used in the device  100 . The catch bin  10  is emptied and reinstalled as stated above. Occasionally, the catch bin  10  may be rinsed and cleaned, and may even be safely placed within a dishwasher for thorough cleaning, the catch bin  10  being constructed of dishwasher safe material in the preferred embodiment. 
   Based upon the foregoing, it will be seen that there has been provided a new and useful can collection catch bin of unitary construction that can be easily used by a consumer with an aluminum can compacting mechanism of prior invention, which catch bin has a minimal number of integrally formed parts and requires only a minimal number of steps to use; that is conveniently locatable immediately beneath the aluminum can compacting mechanism of prior invention; that is functionally adapted to be removably attachable to the can compacting device of prior invention; that includes means for preventing the inadvertent detachment of the catch bin from the can compacting mechanism except where detachment was desired or required by the user; that does not interfere with the operation of the prior can compacting mechanism, and particularly with regard to the full motion of the handle through its compression cycle; and that is attractive in the accumulation, but not display, of unsightly crushed cans as they are collected and that is self-contained and cleanable to collect and allow the removal of any residue that may escape from the crushed cans.