Abstract:
A container lid opener and storage device providing storage for a plurality of wheeled containers that have hinged lids. The containers used for separating different types of household waste are pushed into the device where each container lid is coupled to a single outer lid. The connecting tether assembly provides access for attaching and detaching the container lids when the single outer lid is in a closed position. The tethers are semi flexible providing sufficient slack for attaching a dethatching in addition to a maximum container lid open angle relevant to the respective outer lid open angle positioning. A single foot pedal is used to simultaneously open and close multiple containers while having the use of both hands for depositing sorted items.

Description:
PRIORITY 
     This application is a non-provisional of, and claims priority to and the benefit of, U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/278,149, filed Oct. 5, 2009, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     An increasing number of municipalities in North America and around the world are requiring that citizens sort their garbage and recyclable material and deposit this material in municipally mandated, individually wheeled and hinge lidded containers. A growing number of cities are requiring that citizens also sort and separately dispose food waste and other compost. These waste sorting and disposal requirements stem from the concern about growing landfill waste, it being policy in many cities to reduce landfill waste by recycling food waste and other compost material, as well as plastics, newspapers, and a variety of other goods. 
     From job creation, to reduction of methane emissions from landfills, to reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, to reduction in energy consumption, the benefits of recycling are indisputable. 
     Notwithstanding these benefits, and despite municipal by-laws and municipal provision of separate containers for garbage, compost and recyclables, many citizens are still not sorting their waste pursuant to municipal regulations. In Toronto, for example, only 15% of residents of multi-family residential buildings sort and recycle (source: City of Toronto, 2008). According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the recycling rate in the United States is 34% (2010). This means that 54% of all of waste in the United States still ends up in landfill. Much more needs to be done. 
     The purpose of this invention is to remove some of the obstacles to recycling, thereby encouraging and increasing recycling and food composting and enhancing the environment. 
     Presently, most trash, compost and recycling containers are stored outdoors, exposed to the elements and the animals. Animals such as raccoons frequently tip over the compost containers and empty the contents in their search for food. This leaves a mess, and potentially harmful bacteria on the containers. 
     Also presently, when a citizen wishes to dispose of various waste, he takes this waste outside, sometimes in appropriate bags and sometimes not. He then must put the waste on the ground or in one hand, and individually open one of the various garbage, compost or recycling containers to make a deposit. This step must be repeated over and over for each container. In addition, this requires hand contact with the container lids. In the case of the compost containers, this inconvenience is exacerbated by the fact that containers often have bungee cords and other devices keeping them closed, in order to ward off raccoons. These devices must be detached. This hand contact can also be potentially dangerous, as compost containers are often contaminated with germs and bacteria. 
     Some of the reasons why some people refuse to comply with municipal waste regulations (85% of residents of multi-family apartments in Toronto), include the fact that it is more time-consuming to sort waste than it is to put it all in one bag or bin. In addition, over time, containers (particularly compost containers) become encrusted in food waste and contaminated with germs. Some citizens refuse to touch these containers, as they do not wish to be exposed to these germs. Citizens also fear contact with compost containers because of raccoons: raccoons have become adept at opening compost containers to get at the food, not only creating a mess for citizens but also potentially leaving behind infectious and potentially fatal disease. Raccoons carry Rabies, Roundworm, Giardiasis, Leptospirosis and other diseases such as  Salmonella  and  E. Coli . (Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management). 
     SUMMARY 
     With the single, foot pedal operated lid device of the present invention, citizens will take their garbage, food waste and recyclables to an outside housing enclosure which will house a variety of municipally mandated, outdoor, individually wheeled and hinge lidded trash, compost and recycling containers set inside the enclosure. A single outer lid will be pivotally affixed to the back of the storage enclosure. With one depression of the foot pedal the single outer lid will open, simultaneously opening the lids of all of the waste and recycling containers inside the housing enclosure due to the fact that the lids of these containers will be tethered to the underside of the single outer lid. Citizens will then drop the various wastes in the appropriate containers, simultaneously, or in a series of drops, without having to touch the container lids or the single outer lid. Once deposits are complete, citizens will release the foot pedal and the single outer lid will close, simultaneously closing the individual container lids inside. 
     The purpose of this foot pedal operated lid device is, ultimately, to help the environment by removing the barriers that keep people from recycling, thereby increasing compliance with municipal waste and recycling regulations. In particular, the intention is that the convenience of this hands free method of depositing waste will increase composting and recycling compliance, thereby reducing landfill waste. The present invention is also intended to solve the problem of raccoons and other foraging animals constantly getting into compost and trash containers, creating a mess and contaminating the containers. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is perspective view of the preferred embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is a partial view of foot pedal linkages and pedal assembly sub-housing. 
         FIG. 3  is another exemplary embodiment for two, containers of differing heights. 
         FIG. 4  is a partial and exploded view of the tether assembly coupling the single outer lid. with the individual container lid. 
         FIG. 5  is a left side elevation view showing single outer lid slope configuration. 
         FIG. 6  is a left side sectional elevation view showing the stretched semi-flexible tether in a ghosted line. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , in the preferred embodiment of the present invention. Wheels  52  and container lid  19  of the outdoor household trash, compost and recycling containers  20  are illustrated. Housed in a housing enclosure  10 . These types of housing enclosures  10  are readily available to consumers from a number of small and large manufacturers. Generally made of wood, plastic, alloy, or combination. These housing enclosures  10  typically have a base  45 , a back wall  11 , a left sidewall  12  and a right sidewall  13  and front wall access for placement and removal of the containers  20 . 
     Inserted into and attached to this housing enclosure  10  is a foot pedal operated single outer lid device of the present invention. 
     In the preferred embodiment, the foot pedal  27  is constructed of rigid, resilient material such as metal, alloy, composite, or the like, and is generally, centrally located at the base  45  of the housing enclosure  10 . The foot pedal  27  perpendicularly couples to a forwardly projecting left pedal member  28  and a forwardly projecting right pedal member  29 . 
     The foot pedal  27  is placed approximately 12 inches (30.5 centimeters) from the ground at the top of its travel and its travel. The foot pedal treading surface swivels independent of its rotation around a shaft  30 , configured to rotate within 30 degrees between the left pedal member  28  and the right pedal member  29  for ergonomic foot articulation. The top surface of the pedal  27  has traction surface for non-slip treading. 
     The left  28  and right  29  pedal members are made of aluminum flat bar and fixed to a horizontal shaft  30  in order to rotate. Structural reinforcement  118  is secured between the left pedal member  28  and right pedal member  29 . This foot pedal assembly forms a rigid body that rotates on the shaft  30  in the form of a second-class lever. Various other configurations could be employed to apply similar principles of leverage. 
     What follows is a detailed description of the various linkages, and structures that are combined to urge the single outer lid  38  open using the foot pedal  27 . 
       FIG. 1 , shaft  30  is made of aluminum and is pivotally mounted with a left bi-directional bearing  31   a  and a right bi-directional bearing  31   b . The bi-directional bearings  31   a  and  31   b  are supported by a left bracket  32   a  and a right bracket  32   b . The brackets  32   a  and  32   b  are respectively mounted on a left pedal member wall  33   a  and a right pedal member wall  33   b  so as to orientate the pedal  27  to operate within the approximate 12-inch (30.5 centimeters) height indicated. 
     The left pedal member wall  33   a  and the right pedal member wall  33   b  extend from the base  45  of the housing enclosure  10 , with the left pedal member wall  33   a  having a height to support a slotted platform  35 . The slotted platform  35  is horizontally oriented, extending laterally from the top of left pedal member wall  33   a , over to the side of the right pedal member wall  33   b.    
     The platform  35  covers the pedal member segments  28  and  29  within their range of operation. The slotted platform  35  extends from the front of the enclosure  10  to the back wall  11 . The right pedal member wall  33   b  extends upwardly, higher than the left pedal member wall  33   a  for the purpose of mounting a gas spring shock  39 . The gas spring shock extends upward to an abutment bracket  36 , that is affixed to the underside of the single outer lid  38 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 2  Gas spring shock  39  assists in urging upwards the single outer lid  38  when the foot pedal  27  is activated. The gas spring shock  39  is pivotally mounted on one end to the abutment bracket  36 . The opposite end of the gas spring shock  39  is then pivotally mounted to pedal member wall  33   b.    
     The top end of a vertical, elongated thrust member  34  is pivotally connected to the abutment bracket  36  using an upper clevis pin  131 . The thrust member  34  is made of sufficiently rigid aluminum flat bar or equivalent. The thrust member  34  then extends downwardly, passing through the slotted platform  35  to the right pedal member  29 , where it pivotally couples using a lower clevis pin  119 . The thrust member  34 , partially assisted by the gas spring shock  39 , transmits force exerted by the actuation of the foot pedal  27 , urging the single outer lid  38  to open and dampen when closing. 
     Referring back to  FIG. 1 , in the preferred embodiment the single outer lid  38  is flat and rectangular. It is sized to completely cover the top of the housing enclosure  10  and is sufficiently rigid to withstand the thrust generated by the thrust member  34 . 
     In the preferred embodiment, the single outer lid  38  is affixed to the top of the back wall  11  of the housing enclosure  10  with a single, elongated, continuous hinge  26 . It is also possible to use a series of hinges. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , the single outer lid  38  placement is arranged to provide a downward slope from the back  11  of the housing enclosure  10  to the front of the enclosure, to allow for water run-off. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , the trash, compost and recycling containers  20  inside the housing enclosure  10  can be a combination of a variety of sizes and heights. This drawing shows the single outer lid  38  in a closed position connected to container lids  19  with tethers  41 . The pedal  27  travel is indicated by a ghosted line. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , in the preferred embodiment the container lids  19  are attached to the single outer lid  38  using adjustable settings provided by detachable tethers  41 . The plurality of container lids  19  interfacing with the underside of the single outer lid  38  requires that the tethers  41  be constructed of a non-rigid, flexible or semi-flexible material, comprised of rubber or other semi-flexible or flexible material to allow for expansion and contraction. This is necessary to accommodate the lesser distance between the underside of the single outer lid  38  and the top of the containers  20  and container lids  19  when closed, and the greater distance between the underside of the single outer lid  38  and the top of the container lids  19  when open. Additionally, the tethers  41  are required to be adjustable so as to accommodate the different distances between the underside of the single outer lid  38  and the various containers  20  with container lids  19  of differing heights. Consequently, the tethers  41  contain holes providing options for the various heights of the containers  20 . 
       FIG. 6  shows a side view demonstrating how the flexible tether  41  stretches when the single outer lid  38  is open, maximizing access to the containers  20 . 
     Referring back to  FIG. 4 , a first tether mount  43  is secured to each container lid  19  and a second tether mount  42  is secured to the underside of the single outer lid  38 . Each tether  41  is attached on one end, to the tether mount to the first tether mount  43 , and on the other end to the second tether mount  42 , with spring loaded clips  58   a  and  58   b  that have a pivoting spring loaded portion  59   a  and  59   b  that can be manually released to securely couple said tether to said first and second tether mount. The said pivoting spring loaded portion of spring loaded clips  58   a  and  58   b  also being manually movable allowing said tethers to be detached from said first tether mount  43  and or second tether mount  42 . 
     The plurality of tether mounts  42  and  43  are secured to the underside of the single outer lid  38  using fasteners  66 , and to the tops of the container lids  19  using a ‘high bond’ adhesive  60 , or other fastening means. 
     Referring back to  FIG. 1 , according to the present invention, the user approaches the housing enclosure  10  with various compost, trash and recycling for depositing into various containers  20 . The user does not have to place these items on the ground. Rather, the user steps on the pedal  27  and the single outer lid  38  opens, simultaneously opening the container lids  19  of the containers  20  stored inside the housing enclosure  10 . The user does not have to touch the containers  20 . All of the containers  20  are now accessible as a result of the foot pedal  27  actuation. The user has two free hands available to deposit bags and items into the appropriate containers  20 , simultaneously or consecutively. When the user finishes depositing, their foot is withdrawn from the pedal  27 , and the spring gas shock  39  allows for a controlled, dampened closing. When the single outer lid  38  is closed the attached container lids  19  are returned to a closed and sealed position. 
     When the single outer lid  38  is closed, the containers  20  inside the housing enclosure  10  are sheltered from the weather and animals. The downward slope of the single outer lid  38  has the added benefit of deflecting gusts of wind that might otherwise force it open. 
     On collection day, the containers  20  are easily disconnected from the tethers  41  while the single outer lid  38  remains resting in a closed position. The containers  20  are then rolled out of the housing enclosure  10  to be placed at curbside. Once the containers  20  are returned to the housing enclosure  10  they are pushed back into position and re-attached to the single outer lid  38  for future sorting and depositing. 
     The optimal materials to construct the described housing enclosure and respective parts required for the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art. 
     The included detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made for the purpose of illustrating general principles of embodiments of the invention. The scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims. In certain instances, detailed descriptions of well-known devices, components, mechanisms and methods are omitted so as to not obscure the description of the present invention with unnecessary detail. The scope of the embodiments should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by the examples given.