Patent ID: 6859005

Claim:
An apparatus for receiving garbage and comprising: a base section defining an opening for collecting garbage; a lid section attachable to said base section, said lid section including an access door pivotally operable therewith, said lid section having a top surface; means for selectively moving said access door between open and closed positions and comprising a sensor connected to the top surface of said lid section and for determining when an object has reached a predetermined distance therefrom, a housing and a motor disposed therein and connected to said sensor, said housing having a plurality of slots formed therein and spaced apart from each other, and a plurality of arm members each having a first end portion passing through a corresponding one of said plurality of slots and being operable by said motor, said plurality of arm members each having a second opposed end portion connected to said access door respectively, said plurality of arm members being selectively pivotable about their first end portions respectively and in a generally arcuate path so that when the second end portions thereof move toward a rear portion of said lid section said access door is moved to an open position and when the second end portions move toward a front portion of said lid section said access door is moved to a closed position; and a power cord connected to said sensor and said motor and for supplying power thereto.