Patent Publication Number: US-4095830-A

Title: Container and cover tie down apparatus

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Pat. application Ser. No. 679,665, filed Apr. 23, 1976, now Pat. No. 4,009,897, issued March 1, 1977. 
    
    
     The problems of animals removing lids from garbage cans in their search for food, knocking over the cans, and the ensuing mess of strewn refuse, unsightly, attracting rat infestations and making needless work, is well known. Strong winds often topple garbage cans and with the same undesirable results. 
     Tension straps to retain the lids on the cans are well known. For example, Remig U.S. Pat. No. 3,363,924 discloses the use of flat endless rubber bands, knotted about the lid handle and secured to the side can handles by metal hooks. Williams U.S. Pat. No. 3,589,760 discloses a garbage can clamp having a tension cord of nylon secured as by a turnbuckle to a steel coil spring and associated with metal hooks to engage the side handles of the can. Kolman U.S. Pat. No. 3,174,787 discloses an integrally molded tension strap about 1/4inches in diameter having protuberances adapted to be used with a hook member to secure garbage can lids. The present invention eschews the use of accessory members such as metal hooks and accomplishes its twofold task of lid hold down and can positioner with a single integrally formed tension strap. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is the purpose of this invention to provide a cover hold down and a container positioner or strap holder without ancillary parts --no metal hooks, springs or the like, but a strong integrally formed member which is simple in design and inexpensive to manufacture, which can be secured and released with one hand, is long lasting and made of weatherproof material. 
     These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the lid and can retainer in use; and 
     FIG. 2 is a view of the device in its extended position; and 
     FIG. 3 is a layout of the hold down as manufactured; and 
     FIG. 4 is a view of the hold down in relaxed position; and 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an improved loop for securing against a handle; and 
     FIG. 6 is a layout of an improved hold down apparatus. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Like reference characters indicate like parts throughout the figures of the drawings. Numeral 10 indicates generally a container having a removable cover 12, side handles 14 and a top cover handle 16. In FIG. 1, post 18 having a hook 28 is shown. The hold down is indicated as 5 and shown in its relaxed position in FIG. 4 and FIG. 6, comprises a resilient strap member which may be integrally molded of a water-proof elastic material in a multiple mold, as indicated in FIG. 3, which uses an alternate placement pattern for the most efficient use of space. It could also be stamped out from sheet material in a similar alternate pattern to conserve material. 
     Referring to FIG. 2, the hold down apparatus 5 comprises a loop 8 of approximately 1 inch in diameter having a main stem or body portion 6 which is approximately 83/4 inches long and which bifurcates for form two legs 7, 7 approximately 113/8 inches long, each terminating in a loop 9 having a major axis about 13/8 inches long and a minor axis about 1 inch wide. The bifurcation and junctures of all stems, legs and loops are curved so that no weak edge is presented which is susceptible to tearing and wearing. The cross-sectional diameter of the molded strap material is approximately 1/4 inch. 
     The tie down apparatus may be applied to a 20 gallon capacity garbage can as well as a 30 gallon can. Every portion of the hold down is capable of extension ranging from 20% to 40% over its original length. 
     FIG. 5 shows an improved end loop in perspective view extending from a leg 20. A plurality of raised bosses 21 are arranged around the top face of the loop and a plurality of raised bosses 22 are arranged around the bottom face of the loop. Bosses 21 and 22 may be either oppositely arranged or staggered so as to form alternating bosses around both faces of the loop. Bosses 21 and 22 serve as spacers between the container and the loop to prevent sharp edges along the container surface, particularly in the region around the container handle, from cutting into the loop material. They further provide a means for preventing the respective loops from turning and twisting when the apparatus is removed and replaced over the container cover. Without bosses 21 and 22, it was found that when body portion 6 was stretched to either remove the apparatus from holding down cover 12 or to replace the apparatus over cover 12, that loops 9 tended to turn and twist about handles 14. This sometimes caused loops 9 to slip off a handle 14, or to cause loops 9 to become abraided or cut by any sharp edge which might be in the vicinity of handle 14. Bosses 21 and 22 provide a traction mechanism which successfully resists any such twisting or turning motion of the loops, but they should be raised to a height of at least about 1/4 inch to be effective. 
     FIG. 6 shows an improved apparatus having the loops of FIG. 5 attached to legs 20, and further having an improved handle 26 formed along the body portion between loop 27 and legs 20. Handle 27 provides a convenient grasping point for stretching legs 20 to enable either the removal or replacement of the apparatus with respect to a container cover. Handle 27 is preferably formed in the same molding process as the remaining portions of the apparatus. 
     In operation, the resilient hold down strap 5 is extended across the width of the container cover 12, as shown in FIG. 1, with the loops stretched around the side handles 14 of the container to hold the cover down. The stem portion 6 is then run through the top handle 16 of the cover, or merely over the top of the cover, and loop 8 or 27 engages a hook, such as 28 in FIG. 1, to prevent overthrow of the can. The handle 26 may be used to stretch the legs of the apparatus to properly fit over the cover. To remove the cover hold down, hook 8 is disengaged and the handle 27 is pulled over the edge of the container, which can be achieved with one hand. The apparatus as shown in FIG. 1 constitutes a three point hold down arrangement. 
     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 restored to, falling within the scope of the invention.