Garbage container and holder therefore

Abstract

A garbage container and a garbage container holder assembly therefore is provided with holder assembly including a base plate which is anchored to the ground and which has a rib receiving portion formed thereon and a pedal which is spring-loaded from thereon. The garbage container has an outwardly projected rib at its lower end which may be positioned below the rib receiver and which may be positioned below the projecting portion of the spring-loaded pedal. The cooperation of the holder with the container maintains the container on the holder in windy conditions.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a garbage can and a holder therefore and relates more particularly to a holder for a specially designed garbage can which prevents the garbage can from being blown over and/or away.

2. Description of the Related Art

In most cities, a household garbage can must be placed at the curb to enable the garbage collector to have convenient access to the garbage can to dump the contents thereof into a garbage truck. In many cases, the filled garbage can awaiting collection will be blown over which frequently results in the garbage being spilled from the garbage can which creates an unsightly mess.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key aspects or essential aspects of the claimed subject matter. Moreover, this Summary is not intended for use as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.

A garbage can or container, including a holder therefore is described. The garbage container includes a bottom wall portion having an upper surface and a lower surface, and an upstanding side wall portion having an interior surface and exterior surface, an upper end and a lower end, which extends upwardly from the bottom wall portion. The container has an outwardly projecting rib which extends therefrom adjacent the lower end of the container. The rib extends at least partially around the container and preferably at least half way around the container. The garbage container holder assembly comprises a base plate having an upper surface, a lower surface, and a peripheral edge. The base plate is adapted to be secured to a supporting surface such as the ground by means of a screw-type anchor or the like. The base plate has a dimension sufficient to support the bottom wall portion of the container thereon. The base plate has a rib receiver positioned above the upper surface of the base plate adjacent the peripheral edge thereof which is adapted to receive the outwardly projecting rib of the container positioned on the base plate. The base plate has a spring-loaded foot pedal apparatus positioned adjacent the peripheral edge thereof for selective engagement with the container to maintain the rib in the rib receiver so that the container will be maintained on the base plate of the container holder assembly and which will not be blown over and/or away. The garbage container may be either generally cylindrical, tapered cylindrical or quadrilateral in cross section.

It is therefore a principal object of the invention to provide an improved garbage container and holder assembly therefore which prevents the garbage container from being blown over or away by wind.

A further object of the invention is to provide a garbage container holder which is anchored to the ground and which selectively receives a garbage container thereon.

A further object of the invention is to provide a garbage container holder which is adapted to support a specially designed garbage container thereon with the holder assembly and garbage container having mating or cooperating surfaces thereon to selectively detachably secure the garbage container to the garbage container holder assembly.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a garbage container holder assembly which may be secured to the ground by means of a screw anchor or the like.

A further object of the invention is to provide a garbage container and a holder assembly therefore which is convenient to use.

These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Non-limiting and non-exhaustive embodiments of the present invention are described with reference to the following figures, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the various views unless otherwise specified.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the garbage container and holder of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the garbage container and holder of FIG. 1 illustrating the manner in which the holder is anchored to the ground;

FIG. 3 is an exploded top perspective view of the holder of this invention;

FIG. 4 is an exploded bottom perspective view of the holder of this invention;

FIG. 5 is a partial sectional view illustrating the holder of this invention anchored to the ground;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a modified form of the garbage container and holder;

FIG. 7 is an exploded bottom perspective view of a further modified holder of this invention; and

FIG. 8 is a bottom elevational view of the modified holder of FIG. 7 with the anchor in position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Embodiments are described more fully below with reference to the accompanying figures, which form a part hereof and show, by way of illustration, specific exemplary embodiments. These embodiments are disclosed in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. However, embodiments may be implemented in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense in that the scope of the present invention is defined only by the appended claims.

In FIGS. 1-5, the numeral 10 refers to a specially designed garbage container while the numeral 12 refers to a garbage container holder assembly. Garbage container 10 may be either of the round and tapered container seen in FIGS. 1-5 or square or rectangular cross-section if so desired. The container 10 is comprised of a plastic material and includes a bottom wall portion or member 14 having an upper surface 16, bottom surface 18 and a peripheral edge. The numeral 22 refers to an outwardly projecting rib which is positioned below a recess area 24 which extends around the periphery of the side wall portion 24 which extends upwardly from bottom wall portion 14. If the rib 22 extends sufficiently laterally from the container 10, the recessed area 24 may not be necessary. Preferably, the rib 24 extends completely around the periphery of the garbage container 10 but if desired, the rib 22 could extend only partially around the container 10.

Garbage container holder assembly 12 includes a base plate 26 having an upper surface 28, a lower surface 30 and a peripheral edge 32. Assembly 12 includes an inwardly projecting rib receiver 34 which defines a recessed area 36 therebelow. As seen in FIG. 3, the rib receiver 34 extends approximately half way around the base plate 26 but the same could extend less than half way around the container if so desired. Base plate 26 has a plurality of openings 37 formed therein to permit rainwater or the like to drain downwardly therethrough.

The numeral 38 refers to a spring-loaded pedal preferably comprised of plastic which is mounted on the base plate 26 opposite to the rib 34 as seen in FIGS. 3 and 4. The pedal 38 has an outwardly projecting foot portion 40 provided thereon to enable a person to step on the same to move the pedal 38 from its normally closed (locked) position to an open (unlocked) position. The inner side of pedal 38 is provided with a recess 42 formed therein which is adapted to receive a portion of the rib 22 therein.

The lower surface 30 of base plate 26 has a receptacle 44 formed therein into which the upper end portion 45 of an anchor 46 is inserted. The anchor may be of the screw type illustrated in the drawings or of any other configuration which would anchor the base plate 26 to the ground. Preferably, the screw portion of the anchor 46 is approximately 6-8 inches long. The fact that the anchor 46 is removably secured to the receptacle 44 enables the anchor 46 to be removed from the receptacle for shipping purposes.

In use, the anchor 46 will be positioned in the receptacle 44 and the base plate 26 will be screwed or anchored to the ground at the curb side location or any other location where the garbage is to be collected. The garbage container 24 is secured to the base plate 26 by inserting a portion of the rib 22 into the recessed area 36 of the member 34 and then stepping onto the foot portion 40 to move the pedal 38 to its open position so that a portion of the rib 22 may be received in the recessed area 42 at which time the person will remove his/her foot from the foot portion 40 which will cause the spring-loaded pedal to engage the rib 22 to positively maintain the garbage container on the base plate.

When the garbage collector comes to collect the garbage, he/she may easily remove the garbage container 24 from the base plate 26 by stepping on the foot portion 40 to move the pedal 38 to its open position which will permit the container 24 to be easily removed from the base plate 26. After the garbage has been dumped from the container 24, the garbage collector will hopefully reinsert the empty garbage container 24 onto the base plate 26.

FIG. 6 illustrates a modified form of the invention wherein the garbage container 10′ is quadrilateral in shape and wherein the holder 12′ is quadrilateral in shape.

FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate a further modified form of the holder which is referred to by the reference numeral 12″. The lower surface 30″ of base plate 26″ has a generally rectangular shaped slot 50 which extends upwardly into the holder 12″ and which communicates with the inner ends of a pair of pie-shaped recesses 52 and 54 which extend horizontally laterally from slot 50. Arcuate slots 56 and 58 extend from the opposite sides of slot 50 which communicate with recesses 52 and 54 respectively. In FIGS. 7 and 8, the numeral 45″ refers to the upper end portion of anchor 46″ which includes a straight shank portion S at its upper end.

In use, the holder 12″ may be anchored to the ground by first inserting the upper end portion 45″ of anchor 46″ into the slot 50. The anchor 46″ and upper end 45″ is then moved into the recess 52 with shank portion S being received by slot 56. The holder 12″ is then anchored to the ground by rotating the holder 12″ in a clockwise direction as viewed from above the holder 12″ which causes anchor 46″ to be screwed into the ground until the bottom surface of base plate 26″ engages the ground. The garbage container may then be positioned on the holder 12″.

If it is desired to remove the holder 12″ and the anchor 46″ from the ground, the holder 12″ is rotated in a counter clockwise direction as viewed from above the holder 12″ which causes the upper end portion 45″ of anchor 46″ to move into recess 54 as seen in FIG. 8, so that continued counter clockwise rotation of holder 12″ will cause anchor 46″ to be screwed upwardly from the ground.

If it is desired to leave the anchor 46″ in the ground while removing holder 12″ therefrom, the holder 12″ is slightly rotated in a counter clockwise direction so that upper end portion 45″ is aligned with slot 50 at which time the holder 12″ may be moved upwardly with respect to the upper end portion 45″ and anchor 45″ to disengage holder 12″ from the anchor 46″ and upper end portion 45″.

Thus it can be seen that a novel garbage container and holder therefore has been provided which accomplishes at least all of its stated objects.

Although the invention has been described in language that is specific to certain structures and methodological steps, it is to be understood that the invention defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific structures and/or steps described. Rather, the specific aspects and steps are described as forms of implementing the claimed invention. Since many embodiments of the invention can be practiced without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, the invention resides in the claims hereinafter appended.

Claims

1. In combination:

a garbage container including a bottom wall portion having an upper surface and a lower surface, and an upstanding side wall portion having an interior surface, an exterior surface, an upper end and a lower end, extending upwardly from said bottom wall portion;

said container having an outwardly projecting rib which extends therefrom adjacent said lower end of said side wall portion of said container;

said rib extending at least partially around said container;

and a garbage container holder assembly;

said garbage container holder assembly comprising a base plate having an upper surface, a lower surface and a peripheral edge;

said base plate being adapted to be secured to a supporting surface;

said base plate having a dimension sufficient to support said bottom wall portion of said container thereon;

said base plate having a rib receiver positioned above said upper surface of said base plate adjacent said peripheral edge which is adapted to receive said outwardly projecting rib of said container positioned on said base plate;

said base plate having a foot pedal apparatus positioned adjacent said peripheral edge of said base plate for selective engagement with said container to maintain said rib in said rib receiver to maintain said container on said base plate of said container holder assembly.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said rib extends completely around said container.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said foot pedal apparatus is spring-loaded.

4. The combination of claim 1 wherein said rib receiver comprises an inwardly extending engagement member spaced above said upper surface of said base plate.

5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said engagement member extends over said rib.

6. The combination of claim 4 wherein said container has a recessed area formed in said side wall portion above said rib and wherein said engagement member is received within said recessed area.

7. The combination of claim 1 wherein said base plate has an anchor means secured thereto to enable said garbage container holder assembly to be anchored to the ground.

8. The combination of claim 1 wherein said base plate has at least one drain opening formed therein.

9. The combination of claim 1 wherein said rib receiver extends approximately half way around said base plate.

10. The combination of claim 1 wherein said container is generally cylindrical in shape.

11. The combination of claim 1 wherein said container is quadrilateral in shape.

12. The combination of claim 1 wherein said garbage container holder assembly is comprised of a plastic material.

13. The combination of claim 1 wherein said base plate has an anchor means selectively removably secured thereto.

14. The combination of claim 13 wherein said base plate may be selectively removed from said anchor means without removing said anchor means from the ground.

15. A garbage container, comprising:

a container including a bottom wall portion having an upper surface and a lower surface, and an upstanding side wall portion having an interior surface, an exterior surface, an upper end and a lower end, extending upwardly from said bottom wall portion;

said container having a rib which extends outwardly therefrom adjacent said lower end of said side wall portion of said container;

said rib extending at least partially around said container.

16. The container of claim 15 wherein said container has a recessed portion formed in said exterior surface of said side wall portion above said rib.

17. A garbage container holder assembly comprising:

a base plate having an upper surface, a lower surface, a peripheral edge;

said base plate being adapted to be secured to a supporting surface;

said base plate having a dimension sufficient to support the bottom wall of a garbage container thereon;

said base plate having a rib receiver positioned above said upper surface of said base plate adjacent said peripheral edge which receives said outwardly extending rib of the garbage container positioned on said base plate;

said base plate having a foot pedal positioned adjacent said peripheral edge of said base plate for selective engagement with said container to maintain said rib in said rib receiver to maintain the garbage container on said base plate of the container holder assembly.

18. The garbage container holder assembly of claim 17 wherein an anchor means is selectively removably secured to said base plate to anchor said base plate to the ground.

19. The garbage container holder assembly of claim 18 wherein said base plate may be selectively removed from said anchor means without removing said anchor means from the ground.