Patent Abstract:
A fastener and plug device for mounting a trashcan bar to a trashcan and for covering the hollow ends of the trashcan bar includes a plug portion and a fastener portion. The plug portion includes an end cap and a plurality of spaced apart discs for enclosing the openings in the ends of the trashcan bar. The fastener portion includes an extension member extending outwardly from the end cap for engaging and extending through an aperture in the trashcan bar for securing the trashcan bar to the trashcan. The fastener and plug device of the invention reduces the known multiple steps of installing the trashcan bar onto the trashcan, eliminates the use of multiple fasteners typically needed to secure the trashcan bar to the trashcan, is installable in the field, and permits the trashcans to be more easily stackable for storage and transportation.

Full Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]    This Non-Provisional Application claims benefit to U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 60/430,992 filed Dec. 4, 2002. 
     
    
     
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The present invention relates generally to industrial trashcans and more particularly to a fastener and plug device for use with an industrial trashcan.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    Various industrial trashcans are known. These known trashcans are typically used to contain trash until the trash is removed by an automated trash removal system. Known industrial trashcans are designed to accommodate two different methods of automated trash removal. The first method includes the use of a claw device that grabs and clamps the outside of the trashcan. The second method includes the use of two hooks—one hook grabs the top of the trashcan and the other hook grabs onto a bar positioned approximately midway down the side of the trashcan. With both methods, the trashcan is lifted over the container section of a truck and the trashcan is then turned upside down to cause the trash to fall out of the trashcan and into the truck&#39;s container section. Known trashcans must endure repeated use and be useable with either known method of automated trash removal. Consequently, existing industrial trashcans must include or be fitted with the trashcan bar located midway down the side of the trashcan. Typically, the installation of this bar requires several steps. One step requires the placement of plugs into the ends of the bars, which are typically hollow. The plugs provide protection against animal infestation and inhabitation. A second step requires the mounting of the bars onto the sides of the trashcans. A third step requires the securement of the bar to the side of the trashcan through the use of multiple rivets or other fasteners.  
           [0004]    The known method of installing the trashcan bar onto the side of the trashcan, however, has several drawbacks. As an example, when the trashcan is grabbed and clamped by the automated trash removal process, the rivets securing the bar sometimes shear off and the bar will fall off of the trashcan. Moreover, the multiple-step installation of the bar onto the trashcan is time consuming, difficult, and expensive. Consequently, there is a need in the art for a technique for mounting the trashcan bar to the trashcan that overcomes the known drawbacks and shortcomings with existing techniques for installing the bars onto the trashcans.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0005]    The present invention is directed to a technique for mounting a trashcan bar to a trashcan. The technique of the present invention includes the use of a mountable fastener plug that covers the opening in the end of the bar and also secures the bar onto the trashcan. The present invention reduces the known multiple steps of installing the bar onto the trashcan, eliminates the use of multiple fasteners typically needed to secure the bar to the trashcan, eliminates the need for separate fasteners and hole plugs, and is installable in the field. The installation of the invention results in an opening between the plug body and the interior wall of the trashcan bar to allow for unwanted water or waste to drain out of the trashcan bar and to prevent animal infestation within the trashcan bar. The present invention further permits the trashcans to be more easily stackable for storage and transportation.  
           [0006]    Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon review of the following detailed description, claims and drawings in which like numerals are used to designate like features. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]    [0007]FIG. 1 shows a side view of a prior art mounting of a bar onto a trashcan.  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 2 shows a partial side view of one embodiment of the mounting of a bar onto a trashcan according to the present invention.  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 3 shows an isometric view of an exemplary fastener and plug device of the present invention.  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 4 shows another isometric view of the invention of FIG. 3.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 5 shows a front elevation view of the invention of FIG. 3.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 6 shows a top plan view of the invention of FIG. 3.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 7 shows a side elevation view of the invention of FIG. 3.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 8 shows a partial view of a trashcan bar on which is mounted the invention of FIG. 3.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 9 shows a top plan view of another embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 10 shows a side view of the embodiment of FIG. 9.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 11 shows an end view of the embodiment of FIG. 9.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 12 shows an exemplary assembly of the another embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
       [0019]    Before the embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including” and “comprising” and variations thereof are meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items and equivalents thereof  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS  
       [0020]    Referring to FIG. 1, there is depicted a prior art assembly of a trashcan bar to an industrial trashcan. As depicted, the trashcan bar  10  is fastened to the sidewall of the trashcan  12  through the use of multiple rivets  14 . The trashcan bar  10  extends across an opening  16  formed by the sidewall  13  of the trashcan  12  and through opposing holes  15  formed in the sidewall  13 . The opening  16  is formed on the outside  17  of the trashcan  12 . The multiple rivets  14  are positioned on each end of the trashcan bar  10  within the opening  16  and therefore on the outside  17  of the trashcan  12 . The multiple rivets  14  secure the trashcan bar  10  to the trashcan  12  by preventing slidable movement of the trashcan bar  10  through the opposing holes  15 . Occasionally, the multiple rivets  14  shear off when the trashcan bar  10  is grabbed by the automated trash removal equipment.  
         [0021]    Located at the ends of the trashcan bar  10 , which conventionally has a hollow interior, are hole plugs  18  that are mounted into the openings formed at each end of the hollow trashcan bar  10 . The hole plugs  18  prevent animal infestation within the trashcan bar  10  and keep water and waste out of the interior of the trashcan bar  10 .  
         [0022]    Referring to FIG. 2, there is depicted a technique for mounting a trashcan bar to the trashcan according to the present invention. The trashcan bar  20  is secured to the trashcan  22  through the use of an exemplary fastener and plug device  24  of the invention (hereinafter referred to as a “fastener plug”). The fastener plug  24  is removably mounted to the ends of the bar  20  and serves as both a fastener to secure the trashcan bar  20  to the sidewall  23  of the trashcan  22  and as a plug to prevent water, waste, and animals from entering the ends of the trashcan bar  20 . Unlike the prior art, the invention secures the trashcan bar  20  to the trashcan  22  from the inside  25  of the trashcan  22  and does not require additional fasteners, such as rivets, for its assembly. Also unlike the prior art, the invention secures the trashcan bar  20  onto the trashcan  22  without much assembly and can be installed in the field. In addition, the invention does not require separate plugs to cover the ends of the trashcan bar  20 . Also, the invention permits the easy removal of the trashcan bar  20  from the trashcan  22 .  
         [0023]    Referring to FIGS.  3 - 7 , there are depicted various views of the exemplary fastener plug  24  of the present invention. The fastener plug  24  may be made of nylon or any other suitable material. The fastener plug  24  includes a fastener portion  26  and a plug portion  28 . The fastener portion  26  is formed integral with and extends outwardly from the plug portion  28  near the peripheral edge  66  of the plug portion  28 . The fastener portion  26  defines a paddle-shaped arm  30  and has a fixed end  32  and a free end  34 . The fixed end  32  is attached to, or formed integral with, the plug portion  28  and further includes a support rib  36  positioned below the fixed end  32 , as depicted in FIG. 7. The fastener portion  26  extends outwardly and slightly upwardly from the plug portion  28 . With this configuration, the fastener portion  26  will have a resiliency or springiness relative to the plug portion  28 . This will permit the arm  30  to flex as the fastener plug  24  is installed in the hollow end of the trashcan bar  20  and will snap back to its original shape and position when a projecting member  40 , described below, passes through an opening or aperture  44 , described below, in the trashcan bar  20 .  
         [0024]    Located at the free end  34  of the fastener portion  26  is the projecting member  40 . The projecting member  40  defines an upwardly extending, inclined protuberance that, in use, will fit within and through an opening or aperture  44  formed in the cylindrical wall of the trashcan bar  20 , as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 8. The projecting member  40  is sized, shaped, and configured to extend through the opening  44  and will assist in anchoring or securing the fastener plug  24  onto the trashcan bar  20 . Once installed, the projecting member  40  of the fastener plug  24  secures the trashcan bar  20  onto the trashcan  22 , as illustrated in FIG. 2. Specifically, and as assembled, the projecting member  40  extends through the opening  44  and outwardly from the exterior of the trashcan bar  20 . With the fastener plug  24  installed on both ends of the trashcan bar  20 , the projecting member  40  will serve as a lug or restraint to prevent the longitudinal and slidable movement of the trashcan bar  20  out of the sidewall  23  of the trashcan  22 , thereby securing the trashcan bar  20  onto the trashcan  22 .  
         [0025]    In an exemplary embodiment, the projecting member  40  defines a pair of opposing semi-cylindrical shaped columns  46 ,  48  extending outwardly from the paddle shaped arm  30  that are joined together by a support rib  50  extending between the columns  46 ,  48 . The column  46  and support rib  50  define an inclined surface that, in use, facilitates the insertion and removal of the projecting member  40  within and out of the opening  44  formed in the trashcan bar  20 . The column  48  of the projecting member  40  serves as the lug or restraint to prevent the trashcan bar  20  from sliding out of the trashcan  22 . It should be understood that other shapes, configurations, and designs of the fastener portion  26  are possible with the invention and still provide for the removable securement of the fastener plug  24  to the trashcan bar  20 , and also the securement of the trashcan bar  20  to the trashcan  22 .  
         [0026]    The plug portion  28  of the fastener plug  24  defines generally a round-shaped body that is sized and configured to seat within the hollow ends of the cylindrical trashcan bar  20  and to serve as a cap or plug to prevent water, waste and animals from entering the ends of the trashcan bar  20 . The plug portion  28  includes a generally round-shaped end cap  62  having a flat bottom edge  64 . As installed in the hollow end of the trashcan bar  20 , the end cap  62  will seal the opening in the end of the trashcan bar  20  to prevent objects and other items and things, such as amimals, from entering the trashcan bar  20 , while the flat bottom edge  64  creates an opening or slit to permit water or waste to drain out of the trashcan bar  20 . The end cap  62  defines a peripheral edge  66  and has an outer surface  68  and an inner surface  70 . Extending outwardly from the inner surface  70  near the peripheral edge  66  is an arc-shaped rib  72  that is positioned adjacent to and above the fixed end  32  of the fastener portion  26 . The arc-shaped rib  72  serves as a retaining wall to control the radial movement of the fastener portion  26  and is sized and shaped to seat the end cap  62  into the hollow ends of the trashcan bar  20 . A second rib  60  is located at the bottom edge  64  on the inner surface  70  of the end cap  62  to also assist in seating the end cap  62  into the hollow ends of the trashcan bar  20 .  
         [0027]    Spaced apart from the end cap  62  are discs, or referred to as disc-shaped members  74 ,  76  that assist in sealing the hollow ends of the trashcan bar  20  and in securing the plug portion  28  to the trashcan bar  20 . The discs or disc-shaped members  74 ,  76  are separated from each other, and yet joined together and to the end cap  62 , by ribs  78 ,  80 . The ribs  78 ,  80  provide structural support for the disc shaped members  74 ,  76 . The discs or disc-shaped members  74 ,  76  define respective flat end surfaces  82 ,  84  that permit the fastener portion  26  to extend across and above the plug portion  28 . The disc-shaped member  74  is positioned between the end cap  62  and the disc-shaped member  76  and defines a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the end cap  62 , as shown in FIG. 5. The disc-shaped member  74  is sized and shaped to mate with and seal the hollow ends of the trashcan bar  20  and to assist in securing the plug portion  28  to the trashcan bar  20 . As depicted in FIG. 5, the disc-shaped member  74  extends below the flat bottom edge  64  of the end cap  62 , such that when the plug portion  28  is installed into the trashcan bar  20 , will create a seal between the plug portion  28  and the trashcan bar  20  at the bottom to prevent items or objects from entering into the hollow interior of the trashcan bar  20 .  
         [0028]    Referring to FIGS.  9 - 11 , there is depicted another exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The fastener plug  90  includes an end cap  92  for covering and sealing the hollow ends of the trashcan bar. The fastener plug  90  further includes opposing semi-cylindrical shaped extensions  98  extending outwardly from the end cap  92 . The extensions  98  are sized, shaped, and configured for mating with the interior wall of the hollow trashcan bar. Also extending outwardly from the end cap  92  is a fastener extension  100  including an inclined protuberance  102  extending outwardly from the extension  100  for engaging with an opening or aperture in the trashcan bar, as described above. The extension  100  will have a resiliency and springiness that permits the end  106  of the extension  100  to move radially. The radial movement of the extension  100  will assist in the engagement of the inclined protuberance  102  into the opening or aperture in the trashcan bar.  
         [0029]    Referring to FIG. 12, there is depicted yet another exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The fastener plug  130  includes an end cap  132  for covering and sealing the end  94  of a trashcan bar  96  and a cylindrical body  134  extending outwardly from the end cap  132  for fastening the fastener plug  130  to the trashcan bar  96 . The cylindrical body  134  further includes an extension  136  extending outwardly from the end  138  of the cylindrical body  134  toward the end cap  132 . Located on the exterior surface of the extension  136  is a protuberance  140  that is sized and shaped to engage with and extend through an opening  104  in the trashcan bar  96 . The engagement of the protuberance  140  within and through the opening  104  in the bar  96  secures the fastener plug  130  to the bar  96  and the bar  96  to the trashcan, as discussed above. The extension  136  will permit the disengagement of the protuberance  140  from the opening  104  upon a user pressing the protuberance  140  back through the opening  104 . Once the protuberance  140  is disengaged, the fastener plug  130  may be removed from the trashcan bar  96 .  
         [0030]    Variations and modifications of the foregoing are within the scope of the present invention. It should be understood that the invention disclosed and defined herein extends to all alternative combinations of two or more of the individual features mentioned or evident from the text and/or drawings. All of these different combinations constitute various alternative aspects of the present invention. The embodiments described herein explain the best modes known for practicing the invention and will enable others skilled in the art to utilize the invention. The claims are to be construed to include alternative embodiments to the extent permitted by the prior art.  
         [0031]    Various features of the invention are set forth in the following claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 8