Patent ID: 8136688

Claim:
A trash can, comprising: an outer shell having an upper end and a lower end; a lid pivotally coupled to the upper end of the outer shell for movement between an open position and a closed position, the open position and the closed position defining an operable range for the lid; a foot pedal operatively coupled to the lid such that pressing down on the pedal caused the lid to open; a support surface operatively coupled to the lid such that the support surface moves in conjunction with movement of the lid as the lid moves between the open position and the closed position; and a fluid damper having a piston disposed within a cylindrical housing, the damper further having a first end and a second end in which the damper is mounted such that the first end engages the support surface to dampen the downward movement of the lid, the first end being unsecured to the support surface, wherein the damper is mounted such that the first end is engaged by the support surface through a lower portion of the operable range of the lid and such that the first end of the damper is disengaged from the support surface through an upper portion of the operable range of the lid.