Patent Publication Number: US-11046511-B1

Title: Trash can lid fastener

Description:
CLAIM OF PRIORITY 
     The present non-provisional patent application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/690,033 filed Jun. 26, 2018, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates to a device for securing a trash can lid to prevent access to the garbage can&#39;s contents by wildlife, among other natural occurrences. 
     Description of the Related Art 
     Wildlife, and particularly raccoons, are clever and have learned that trash cans often contain enticing food scraps. Consequently, these animals regularly raid trash cans, in the process strewing trash and generally wreaking havoc. 
     As a result, many efforts have been made to secure a lid to its container in a way that is easily operable by a person, but prevents access by wildlife. However, many of these solutions are either difficult to install, proprietary to a specific trash can design, or are integrated into the trash can. 
     Consequently, what is needed is a solution that is easy to install and can be used with a wide variety of types of outdoor trash cans. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to a trash can lid lock. The device includes a connector in the form of a cleat that is attached to the outside of a side wall of the trash can. The connector is secured to the side wall by way of a screw passing through a hole in the side wall to engage a connector lock located inside the trash can. The surface opposite the connector lock may be smoothed or rounded to prevent tearing of any trash bag the connector lock may come into contact with. 
     A cord is attached to the lid of the trash can and runs from the lid to the cleat. When coupled with the cleat, the cord prevents the lid from being opened, particularly by wildlife such as raccoons or other wildlife. When not coupled to the cleat, the lid can be freely opened by a user. 
     In at least one embodiment, the cord passes through a hole in the trash can lid. A stopper having a larger cross section than the hole is attached to the end of the cord that is inside the container, so as to secure the cord to the lid. 
     In alternate embodiments, the cord is formed into a loop. This facilitates easier coupling to the cleat, as the cord can be easily looped around the cleat. 
     These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become clearer when the drawings as well as the detailed description are taken into consideration. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For a fuller understanding of the nature of the present invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a container and device according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a side plan view of a container and device according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a plurality of components according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a top-down plan view of a stopper according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a cord and stopper according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views of the drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention claimed. As used herein, “or” means “and/or” unless expressly stated otherwise. Furthermore, the use of the singular includes the plural unless specifically stated otherwise, and use of the term “including” as well as other forms, such as “includes,” and “included,” shall not be considered limiting. 
     With reference to  FIG. 1 , a cutaway of a container  1000  is shown. The container  1000  is preferably a refuse container, including but not limited to as a trash can or recycling bin. However, any sort of container with a lid may be used. 
     The container  1000  of  FIG. 1  has a side wall  1200  and a lid  1100 . The container  1200  has an open top. The lid  1100  covers the open top and engages the side wall  1200  to close the container  1000 . 
     The device  100  facilitates locking the container  1000  by securing the lid  1100  to the side wall  1200 . The device  100  includes a cord  600  that is removably coupled to a connector  300 . When the cord  600  is coupled to the connector  300 , the lid  1100  is restrained to the side wall  1200 , placing the container  1000  in the locked position. Uncoupling the cord  600  from the connector  300  allows the lid  1100  to move with respect to the side wall  1200 , unlocking the container  1000 . 
     As further described herein, the cord  600  may be formed into a loop. Coupling the cord  600  to the connector  300  includes looping the cord around the connector  300 . The cord  600  of  FIG. 1  is a loop and passes through a hole  1150  in the lid  1100 . 
     As seen in  FIG. 2 , the lid  1000  has an upper surface  1001  and a lower surface  1002 . A stopper  200  attached to the cord  600  is located adjacent the lower surface  1002 . The stopper  200  constrains the cord  600  so that it cannot slip through the lid  1000 . The cord then  600  runs from the stopper  200 , over a portion of the upper surface  1001  of the lid  1000 , and adjacent a portion of the sidewall  1200  to the connector  300 . The connector  300  is attached to the side wall  1200 . 
     With reference to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the connector  300  is fastened to the side wall with a screw  500 . However, any fastener may be used, and it may be threaded or unthreaded. The connector  300  is disposed adjacent an outer surface  1201  of the side wall  1200 . A bore  310  passes through the connector  300 , which receives and retains the screw  500 . The screw  500  passes through a hole  1250  in the sidewall. The screw engages a connector lock  400  adjacent the inner surface  1202  of the side wall  1200 . 
     With further reference to  FIGS. 1 and 3 , in at least one embodiment the connector  300  comprises a cleat. The connector  300  has a body  301  with opposing ends  302 ,  303 . A first end  302  comprises a base portion  304  that abuts the side wall  1200 . The second end  303  comprises a pair of horns  305  that extend laterally in opposite directions. A trunk portion  306  extends between the base  304  and the horns  305 . The cord  600  is coupled to the connector  300  by looping the cord  600  around the trunk portion  306 . 
     With reference to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the stopper  200  comprises opposing surfaces  201 ,  202 . A pair of holes  210  pass through the stopper  200  and are separated by a divider  220 . The cord  600  passes through the holes  210  and around the divider  220 . The stopper  200  is sufficiently dimensioned and configured such that it will not pass through the hole  1150  in the lid  1100  depicted in  FIG. 1 . 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1 and 5 , the cord  600  is formed into a loop. This may be achieved, for example, by way of a crimp  610 . A first end of the loop  601  is engaged by the stopper  200  as described above. The second end  602  can be coupled to the connector  300  to lock the container  1000 . 
     With reference to the accompanying figures, any or all of the stopper  200 , connector  300 , and connector lock  400  may comprise materials such as but not limited to: ABS plastic with a UV additive, ASA plastic, or any combination of the two. 
     The cord  600  may comprise an elastic material, such as latex rubber. By appropriately distancing the stopper  200  from the connector  300 , a cord  600  comprising elastic material may be used to provide tension between the lid  1100  and side wall  1200 , making it even more difficult for wildlife to open the container  1000 . In various embodiments, the cord  600  may comprise, by way of non-limiting example, materials such as nylon, elastic, polypropylene fabric, or any combination of the foregoing. In embodiments where the cord  600  comprises both an elastic material and a polypropylene fabric, the polypropylene fabric may cover the elastic to shelter it from the elements, including sunlight and sources of abrasion. In at least one embodiment, the cord  600  has a cross sectional diameter of approximately 3/16 inches. 
     The crimp  610  may comprise ¼ pound 316 stainless steel with a cross sectional diameter of approximately 0.02 inches. 316/316L stainless steel may be used, which aids the manufacturing process whereby the crimp  610  engages the cord  600 . In addition, such a material provides excellent corrosion resistance. 
     The screw  500  may comprise zinc plated steel, which aids against corrosion from moisture. The screw  500  in at least one embodiment is a flat head, stainless steel machine screw measuring ¾ inches or 1 inch. 
     Since many modifications, variations and changes in detail can be made to the described preferred embodiment of the invention, it is intended that all matters in the foregoing description and shown in the accompanying drawings be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. Thus, the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents. 
     Now that the invention has been described.