Patent Publication Number: US-2019185264-A1

Title: Trash can lid fastener

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/599,177 filed on Dec. 15, 2017. The above identified patent application is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety to provide continuity of disclosure. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a trash can lid fastener. Specifically, a trash can lid fastener configured to be both easy to use and adjustable, such as to be mountable upon any model of trash can. 
     When people produce refuse, they must have a process for disposed of that refuse. Commonly, individuals will utilize a trash can, or similar apparatus, to store and dispose of refuse. Many individuals, however, have difficulty keeping trash can lids secured upon trash cans. Trash can lids can become separated from trash cans due to numerous factors. For example, animal interference or inclement weather may provide conditions under which a trash can lid may become separated from a trash can. 
     Animal interference, such as by raccoons, may result in large messes and time-consuming labor to clean up these messes. Furthermore, heavy winds may blow the contents of a trash can large distances away from the trash can, creating additional problems for an individual. Cleaning up refuse is not only time consuming but may also be frustrating or difficult. Particularly, individuals suffering from physical ailments may struggle to clean up the aftermath of a tipped garbage can. Therefore, there is a need in the prior art for an effective trash can lid fastener that is both easy to use and adjustable to adapt to various sizes and configurations of garbage cans. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of trash can lid security devices now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a trash can lid fastener wherein the same can be utilized for providing convenience for the user when securing a trash can lid in a closed position. 
     The present system comprises a bracket having a first arm and a second arm. The second arm is orthogonally affixed to the first arm at an end of the first arm. A plurality of apertures is disposed through the first arm. The plurality of apertures is configured to secure the first arm to a first targeted surface via a first arm fastener. A shoulder is perpendicularly disposed upon a contact surface of the second arm. The shoulder is slidably engaged within a slot. At least one second arm fastener extends through the slot and is in operable connection with the shoulder. As such, engagement of the second arm fastener allows for adjustability of the second arm fastener along the a lot. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Although the characteristic features of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims, the invention itself and manner in which it may be made and used may be better understood after a review of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like numeral annotations are provided throughout. 
         FIG. 1  shows a bottom-up perspective view of an embodiment of the trash can lid fastener. 
         FIG. 2  shows a top-down perspective view of an embodiment of the trash can lid fastener. 
         FIG. 3  shows a side view of an embodiment of the trash can lid fastener. 
         FIG. 4  shows a cross-sectional side view of an embodiment of the trash can lid fastener in use upon a trash can. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Reference is made herein to the attached drawings. Like reference numerals are used throughout the drawings to depict like or similar elements of the trash can lid fastener. The figures are intended for representative purposes only and should not be considered to be limiting in any respect. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a bottom-up perspective view of an embodiment of the trash can lid fastener. The trash can lid fastener  10  comprises a bracket  11 . The bracket  11  is defined by a first arm  12  and a second arm  13 . The second arm  13  is orthogonally affixed to an end of the first arm  12 . In the illustrated embodiment, the bracket  11  is L-shaped, such that the bracket  11  will contour a top end of a trash can to engage both a side wall of the trash can and a top surface of a lid of a trash can. In one embodiment, the bracket  11  is made of a durable material, such that its shape is preserved when mounted upon a trash can. 
     A shoulder  14  is perpendicularly disposed on a contact surface  15  of the second arm  13 . The shoulder  14  is slidably engaged within at least one slot  16 . In the illustrated embodiment, a pair of slots  16  are provided, wherein each slot of the pair of slots  16  is parallel to the other slot. In one embodiment, the slot  16  is linearly oriented along the second arm  13 , such that the slot  16  runs parallel to an edge of the second arm  13 . In one embodiment, the shoulder  14  is made of a relatively soft material, relative to the bracket  11 , such that the shoulder  14  can be shaped in response to being pressured upon a surface, such as a trash can lid. 
     In one embodiment, at least one pad  17  is disposed on a lower surface  18  of the first arm  12 . The pad  17  is configured to rest flush against a side wall of a trash can. When the pad  17  rests flush against the side wall of the trash can, less damage is exerted upon the side wall than would be in the absence of the pad  17 . In the illustrated embodiment, a pair of pads  17  are disposed on the lower surface of the first arm. The pair of pads  17  are rectangular in configuration and are disposed in a linearly parallel manner. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , there is shown a top-down perspective view of an embodiment of the trash can lid fastener. A plurality of apertures  21  are disposed through the first arm  12 . The plurality of apertures  21  is configured to secure the first arm  12  to a targeted surface via a first arm fastener. The first arm fastener is any fastener suitable for securing the first arm to the targeted surface, such as a threaded screw, an adhesive or a nail. 
     At least one second arm fastener  22  extends through the slot and is in operable connection with the shoulder  14 . The second arm fasteners  22  are engageable from a top surface  23  of the second arm  13 . The second arm fasteners  22  are configured to be freely adjustable, such that once the first arm  12  is secured to the side wall of a trash can, the second arm fasteners  22  provide sufficient adjustability to adapt to variable sizes and dimensions of trash can lids. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , there is shown  FIG. 3  shows a side view of an embodiment of the trash can lid fastener. In the illustrated embodiment, the second arm fastener comprises a wing nut  31 . The wing nut  31  is in operable connection with a threaded rod  32 . The threaded rod  32  is affixed to a top surface of the shoulder  14 . As such, engagement of the wing nut  31  will increase or decrease the length of the threaded rod  32  between the shoulder  14  and the second arm  13 , such that the shoulder  14  can be placed into a position flush upon a trash can lid. 
     In an alternate embodiment, the trash can lid fastener  10  further comprises a washer  33  disposed between the wing nut  31  and the top surface of the second arm  13 . The washer  33  is annular and is engaged around the threaded rod  32 . The washer  33  provides convenience to the user, as it prevents damage from being made upon the top surface of the second arm, such as through overtightening of the wing nut  31  upon the threaded rod  32 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , there is shown a cross-sectional side view of an embodiment of the trash can lid fastener in use upon a trash can. In use, the bracket  11  is first placed upon a trash can  41  and a trash can lid  42 . The bracket  11  is dimensioned such that the second arm  13  extends over the trash can lid  42  and the first arm  12  extends over a side portion of the trash can  41 . 
     The first arm  12  is secured to the side portion of the trash can  41  via the first arm fastener  43 . In the illustrated embodiment, the first arm fastener  43  is a plurality of screws, however any suitable fastener for securing the first arm  12  to the side portion of the trash can  41  may be utilized. The shoulder  14  is placed into a position flush against a top surface of the trash can lid  42  where the trash can lid  42  is engaged upon the trash can  41 . Specifically, engagement of the second arm fastener  22  is configured to orient the shoulder  14  into the position flush against the top surface of the trash can lid  42 . 
     It is therefore submitted that the instant invention has been shown and described in various embodiments. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art. With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.