Patent Publication Number: US-7909199-B2

Title: Receptacle, lid and lid maintaining assembly

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/820,841, filed Jul. 31, 2006, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not Applicable. 
     REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX 
     Not Applicable. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Technical Field 
     This invention relates to lid assemblies and, more particularly, to a receptacle lid assembly for a garbage receptacle and like containers for assisting a user to connect a receptacle lid to an associated receptacle. 
     2. Prior Art 
     A broad variety of trash and garbage receptacle assemblies, typically now formed of molded plastic, include a separate removable receptacle lid which is frictionally engageable in place over the open upper end of the receptacle to resist wind and animal intrusion. However, these lids are well known to easily become detached from atop the receptacle in the face of stronger winds and persistent animal efforts to obtain access to the contents of the trash receptacle. A number of prior art devices are known to address this issue of retaining the lid in its in-use position until proper access is gained by, for example, trash collector employees. However, one serious defect in many of these prior art inventions is that removal of the lid by a trash collector worker may be too difficult. Should this occur, the wrath of the worker is typically directed to total destruction of the entire receptacle, the contents being strewn about in the process of this destructive frustration. 
     One prior art example shows an elastic, jawed tether for securing a lid to an associated container, such as a garbage can. The tether comprises an elongated strap terminating at each end in a jawed clamp. The clamp has a self-locking device, such as a cam arrangement, and a screw for closing and locking the jaws in place. A swivel bearing connects each clamp to the strap, so that the clamps have no tendency to twist the strap. Unfortunately, this apparatus is useless for its intended purpose if the jaws thereof become damaged prohibiting the jaws from securing the strap to the lid and the container. 
     Another prior art example shows a garbage or trash receptacle lid securing device for securing a lid to a garbage or trash receptacle. The device includes an elongated receptacle band formed of flexible pliable material having a length sufficient for circumferential engagement around an upper open end of the receptacle. A releasable connection for connecting each end of the band together is also provided for adjustably tightening and securing the band when positioned circumferentially around the receptacle. A plurality of radially spaced lid straps are each connected one to another at a mid point thereof and, at each end thereof, at spaced apart points to and along said band. The lid straps are of sufficient length whereby, when said band is circumferentially engaged and tightened in position around the receptacle with the lid in a closed position atop the receptacle, the lid straps are automatically tightly positioned centrally across the lid in a generally radially evenly spaced apart relation one to another for lid retention. Alternately, the receptacle band and lid straps may either or both be formed of elastic material for self-biasing engagement, the receptacle band thus being formed as a continuous stretchable loop. Unfortunately, this prior art example is cumbersome and difficult to install and impedes easy placement of debris within the container when the apparatus is attached thereto. 
     Accordingly, a need remains for a receptacle lid assembly and associated method in order to overcome the above-noted shortcomings. The present invention satisfies such a need by providing an assembly that is convenient to use, is lightweight yet durable in design, and assists a user to connect a receptacle lid to an associated receptacle. Such an assembly prevents receptacle lids and receptacles from being prematurely and undesirably separated. The assembly is also easy to use and does not impede placement of debris within the receptacle. The present invention is simple to use, inexpensive, and designed for many years of repeated use. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing background, it is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an assembly for a receptacle lid assembly and associated method. These and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention are provided by a combined receptacle and associated lid and connecting assembly for the receptacle and the lid. 
     The assembly includes a receptacle that has an open top end and a closed bottom end respectively. Such a receptacle has a hollow chamber formed therein for receiving debris introduced into the receptacle. A receptacle lid is conveniently fitted over the top end of the receptacle. 
     The assembly further includes a mechanism for effectively maintaining the lid in close proximity to the receptacle while the lid is detached from the receptacle. Such a lid maintaining mechanism is directly connected to the lid and the receptacle respectively and conveniently includes a plurality of disc-shaped plates. Such a plurality of plates includes a first plurality of coextensively shaped plates that have top and bottom surfaces respectively, and a bore formed in a central area thereof. Each of such bottom surfaces has a wall monolithically formed therewith and advantageously extending outwardly at a right angle therefrom. Each of such walls effectively spans along an outer circumference of the bores such that the wall continuously surrounds an associated one of the bores. Each of the walls has a threaded outer surface. A first gasket is nested directly against an inner surface of the wall for effectively preventing fluid and debris from passing through the bore. 
     The plurality of plates further includes a second plurality of coextensively shaped plates that have top and bottom surfaces respectively, and an opening formed in a central area thereof. Each of such bottom surfaces has a wall monolithically formed therewith and advantageously extending outwardly at a right angle therefrom. Each of the walls effectively spans along an outer circumference of the openings such that the wall continuously surrounds an associated one of the openings. Each of the walls has a threaded inner surface. Each of the first plurality of plates has a diameter that is equal to a diameter of each of the second plurality of plates. Each of the walls of the first plurality of plates is threadably interfitted within an associated one of each of the walls of the second plurality of plates during operating conditions such that the lid is effectively intercalated and directly mated between the associated ones of the first and second plates. 
     The plurality of plates further includes a plurality of flanges monolithically formed in the top surfaces of the first and second pluralities of plates respectively. Such flanges advantageously extend outwardly and away from the top surfaces and further are equidistantly spaced about the top surfaces. The flanges are removably affixed to the plurality of plates and extend oppositely away from the lid after the plurality of plates is connected to each other. 
     The lid maintaining mechanism includes a flexible cord that has axially opposed first and second ends respectively tethered to selected ones of the plates. Such a cord further includes a substantially cone-shaped cap that has a circular proximal end directly connected to the first and second ends respectively of the cord. Such a cap conveniently has a pointed distal end spaced from the proximal end thereof. Such a circular end of the cap has a diameter that is greater than a diameter of the cord and equal to a diameter of the bores of the first plurality of plates. A second gasket is advantageously intercalated between the proximal end of the cap and an outer surface of a selected one of the plurality of plates. A third gasket is advantageously intercalated between the proximal end of the cap and an outer surface of another one of the plurality of plates. The second and third gaskets remain directly engaged with the selected plate and the associated plate for effectively prohibiting fluids and debris from passing through respective bores of the selected and another plates. 
     A method for tethering a lid to an associated receptacle includes the steps of providing the receptacle with an open top end and a closed bottom end respectively, providing the lid, drilling a suitably sized hole into an outer wall of the receptacle and the lid respectively, threadably connecting a selected one of a first plurality of plates to an associated one of a second plurality of plates such that the receptacle wall is intercalated therebetween during operating conditions, tightening the selected one of the first plurality of plates to the associated one of the second plurality of plates via a plurality of flanges monolithically formed in respective top surfaces of the first and second pluralities of plates, threadably connecting another one of the first plurality of plates to another associated one of the second plurality of plates such that the lid is intercalated therebetween during operating conditions, tightening the another one of the first plurality of plates to the another associated one of the second plurality of plates via the plurality of flanges, slidably interfitting a cord that has a cap within a bore of each of the first plurality of plates such that the cap directly abuts a top surface of an associated one of the second plurality of plates during operating conditions, introducing debris into the receptacle, and fitting the lid over the top end of the receptacle. 
     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
     It is noted the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
       The novel features believed to be characteristic of this invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a top plan view of the assembly showing the cord and the plurality of plates respectively in a connected arrangement, in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a top plan view of the cord and the plurality of plates respectively shown in  FIG. 1  in a disconnected arrangement; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the assembly attached to the receptacle and the lid respectively; 
         FIG. 4  is a cross sectional view of the cord and the plurality of plates respectively shown in  FIG. 3 , taken along line  4 - 4 ; and 
         FIG. 5  is a cross sectional view of the assembly shown in  FIG. 3 , taken along line  4 - 4 , and showing respectively the cord disconnected from the plurality of plates, the first and second plates disconnected from each other, and the flanges connected and disconnected respectively from the plurality of plates. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiment set forth herein. Rather, this embodiment is provided so that this application will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the true scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout the figures. 
     The assembly of this invention is referred to generally in  FIGS. 1-5  by the reference numeral  10  and is intended to provide a receptacle assembly and associated method. It should be understood that the assembly  10  may be used to secure many different types of lids to many different types of receptacles and should not be limited in use to securing only those types of lids to only those types of receptacles described herein. 
     Referring initially to  FIG. 3 , the assembly  10  includes a receptacle  20  that has an open top end  101  and a closed bottom end  102  respectively. Such a receptacle has a hollow chamber  103  formed therein, which is essential for receiving debris introduced into the receptacle  20 . A receptacle lid  21  is fitted over the top end  101  of the receptacle  20  for prohibiting debris placed therein from prematurely and undesirably exiting said receptacle  20  during operating conditions. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  3 ,  4  and  5 , the assembly  10  further includes a mechanism  22  for maintaining the lid  21  in close proximity to the receptacle  20  while the lid  21  is detached from the receptacle  20 . Such a lid maintaining mechanism  22  is directly connected to the lid  21  and the receptacle  20  respectively and includes a plurality of disc-shaped plates  23 . Such a plurality of plates  23  includes a first plurality  24  of coextensively shaped plates that have top  25  and bottom  26  surfaces respectively, and a bore  27  formed in a central area thereof. Each of such bottom surfaces  26  has a wall  28  monolithically formed therewith and extending outwardly at a right angle therefrom. Each of such walls  28  spans along an outer circumference of the bores  27  such that the wall  28  continuously surrounds an associated one of the bores  27 . Each of the walls  28  has a threaded outer surface  29 . A first gasket  30  is nested directly against an inner surface  31  of the wall, which is crucial for preventing fluid and debris from passing through the bore  27 . The plurality of plates allow a cord  50  (herein described below) to be connected thereto for maintaining the lid  21  in close proximity to the receptacle  20  when the lid  21  is removed from the receptacle  20 . 
     Again referring to  FIGS. 1 through 5 , the plurality of plates  23  further includes a second plurality  32  of coextensively shaped plates that have top  33  and bottom  34  surfaces respectively, and an opening  35  formed in a central area thereof. Each of such bottom surfaces has a wall  36  monolithically formed therewith and extending outwardly at a right angle therefrom. Each of the walls  36  spans along an outer circumference of the openings  35  such that the wall  36  continuously surrounds an associated one of the openings  35 . Each of the walls  36  has a threaded inner surface  37 . Each of the first plurality of plates  24  has a diameter that is equal to a diameter of each of the second plurality of plates  32 . Each of the walls  28  of the first plurality of plates  24  is threadably interfitted within an associated one of each of the walls  36  of the second plurality of plates  32  during operating conditions, which is critical such that the lid  21  is intercalated and directly mated between the associated ones of the first and second plates  24 ,  32 . The first plurality of plates  24  and the second plurality of plates  32  and the cord  50  respectively ensure that a user can remove the lid  21  from the receptacle  20  and release the lid  21  while remaining confident that the lid  21  will remain in close proximity to the receptacle  20 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , the plurality of plates  23  further includes a plurality of flanges  38  monolithically formed in the top surfaces  25 ,  33  of the first and second pluralities of plates  24 ,  32  respectively. Such flanges  38  extend outwardly and away from the top surfaces  25 ,  33  and further are equidistantly spaced about the top surfaces  25 ,  33 . The flanges  38  are removably affixed to the plurality of plates  23  and extend oppositely away from the lid  21  after the plurality of plates  23  is connected to each other. The flanges  38  allow the user to remove the plurality of plates  23  from the lid  21  and the receptacle  20  respectively and install the plates on another lid and receptacle respectively. The flanges  38  are removably affixed to the plurality of plates  23  via a squeezable snap mechanism, buttons, or screws, as examples. 
     Yet again referring to  FIGS. 1 through 5 , the lid maintaining mechanism  22  includes a flexible cord  50  that has axially opposed first  51  and second  52  ends respectively tethered to selected ones of the plurality of plates  23 . Such a cord  50  further includes a substantially cone-shaped cap  53  that has a circular proximal end  54  directly connected to the first and second ends  51 ,  52  respectively of the cord  50 . Such a cap  53  has a pointed distal end  55  spaced from the proximal end  54  thereof. Such a proximal end  54  of the cap  53  has a diameter that is greater than a diameter of the cord  50  and equal to a diameter of the bores  27  of the first plurality of plates  24 . The cord  50  is removable from the first and second pluralities of plates  24 ,  32  respectively such that the user can leave the first and second pluralities of plates  24 ,  32  respectively connected to the lid  21  and the receptacle  20  respectively while removing the cord  50  as desired. The cord  50  may have a hexagonal outer surface as well. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the cord further includes a second gasket  56  intercalated between the proximal end  54  of the cap  53  and an outer surface of a selected one of the plurality of plates  23 . A third gasket  57  is intercalated between the proximal end  54  of the cap  53  and an outer surface of another one of the plurality of plates  23 . The second and third gaskets  56 ,  57  remain directly engaged with the selected plate  23  and the associated plate  23 , which is necessary for prohibiting fluids and debris from passing through respective bores  27  of the selected and another plates  23 . The gaskets  30 ,  56 ,  57  allow the user to employ the lid  21  and receptacle  20  for housing liquid debris without the liquid debris prematurely and undesirably exiting the receptacle  20  during operating conditions. 
     In use, the receptacle lid assembly  10  is simple and straightforward to use. First, the user forms a suitably sized hole in the receptacle  20  and the lid  21  respectively. Next, the user attaches the plurality of plates  23  to the receptacle  20  and the lid  21  respectively. Then, the user attaches the cord  50  to the plurality of plates  23 . Then, the user employs the receptacle  20  as desired. 
     The ability of the user to removably attach the plurality of plates  23  to the lid  21  and the receptacle  20  respectively provides the unexpected benefit of allowing the user to employ the assembly  10  with a multitude of different types of lids  21  and receptacles  20  respectively. In addition, the ability of the user to remove the cord  50  while leaving the plurality of plates  23  in place allows the user to selectively employ the cord  50  as desired, thereby overcoming the prior art shortcomings. 
     A method  10  for tethering a lid  21  to an associated receptacle  20  includes the steps of providing the receptacle  20  with an open top end  101  and a closed bottom end  102  respectively, providing the lid  21 , drilling a suitably sized hole into an outer wall of the receptacle  20  and the lid  21  respectively, threadably connecting a selected one of a first plurality of plates  24  to an associated one of a second plurality of plates  32  such that the receptacle wall is intercalated therebetween during operating conditions, tightening the selected one of the first plurality of plates  24  to the associated one of the second plurality of plates  32  via a plurality of flanges  38  monolithically formed in respective top surfaces  25 ,  33  of the first and second pluralities of plates  24 ,  32 , threadably connecting another one of the first plurality of plates  24 , to another associated one of the second plurality of plates  32  such that the lid  21  is intercalated therebetween during operating conditions, tightening the another one of the first plurality of plates  24  to the another associated one of the second plurality of plates  32  via the plurality of flanges  38 , slidably interfitting a cord  50  that has a cap  53  within a bore  27  of each of the first plurality of plates  24  such that the cap  53  directly abuts a top surface  33  of an associated one of the second plurality of plates  32  during operating conditions, introducing debris into the receptacle  20 , and fitting the lid  21  over the top end of the receptacle  20 . 
     While the invention has been described with respect to a certain specific embodiment, it will be appreciated that many modifications and changes may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is intended, therefore, by the appended claims to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention. 
     In particular, with respect to the above description, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the present invention may include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation. The assembly and use of the present invention are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art.