Pedal actuated waste disposal bin
A waste disposal apparatus for containing a trash can therein includes a cabinet having a front wall, a rear wall, opposite side walls, and a base that are connected to each other to define an enclosed interior space, with the front wall defining an opening space. The apparatus also includes a swinging door having a bottom edge that is pivotably connected to the front wall, with the swinging door movable between a closed position where the swinging door blocks the opening space, and an opened position where the swinging door is pivoted away from the interior space of the cabinet. A foot pedal is pivotably connected to the base, and a link system is operationally connected to the foot pedal and the swinging door to pivot the swinging door between the closed and opened positions, while preventing the swinging door from pivoting into the interior space of the cabinet.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to garbage disposal apparatus, and in particular, to trash bins of the type having a foot actuated swinging door on an upper portion of one of the walls of the bin for allowing food or trash to be dumped into a trash can contained therein.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Fast-food restaurants and other residential and commercial establishments often provide trash bins that resemble a four-sided cabinet. An open-top trash can is positioned inside the cabinet. The cabinet has a swinging door on an upper portion of one of the walls of the cabinet. To deposit food or trash into the trash can, the user must push open the swinging door, and then insert the food or trash through the opening into the trash can.
Unfortunately, the outer surface of the swinging door is often soiled by dirt and trash. Therefore, it is extremely undesirable for the user to have to use his or her hands to push the outer surface of the swinging door in order to deposit food or trash into the trash can.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,372,271 (Miller et al.) discloses a trash bin that is provided with a foot actuated swinging door, so that the user does not need to push the swinging door to deposit food or trash into the trash can. However, the swinging door in U.S. Pat. No. 5,372,271 (Miller et al.) is pivoted into the interior of the cabinet, so it is still possible for the outer surface of the swinging door to be soiled by dirt and trash because the food or trash may sometimes contact the outer surface as the food or trash is inserted through the opening in the cabinet. In other words, the outer surface of the inswinging door faces the interior of the cabinet, so that food or trash can still contact the outer surface.
Thus, there still remains a need for a garbage disposal apparatus that overcomes the drawbacks described above.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSUREIt is an object of the present invention to provide a garbage disposal apparatus that improves the hygiene and cleanliness of the swinging door.
In order to accomplish the objects of the present invention, the present invention provides a waste disposal apparatus for containing a trash can therein. The apparatus includes a cabinet having a front wall, a rear wall, opposite side walls, and a base that are connected to each other to define an enclosed interior space, with the front wall defining an opening space. The apparatus also includes a swinging door having a bottom edge that is pivotably connected to the front wall, with the swinging door movable between a closed position where the swinging door blocks the opening space, and an opened position where the swinging door is pivoted away from the interior space of the cabinet. A foot pedal is pivotably connected to the base, and a link system is operationally connected to the foot pedal and the swinging door to pivot the swinging door between the closed and opened positions, while preventing the swinging door from pivoting into the interior space of the cabinet.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The following detailed description is of the best presently contemplated modes of carrying out the invention. This description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating general principles of embodiments of the invention. The scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.
Referring also to
A plurality of casters or wheels 40 can be provided on the bottom of the base panel 24 to allow the cabinet 12 to be conveniently moved from one location to another.
Referring now to
The rear end of the connecting bar 54 is pivotably connected to the bottom end of the vertical link bar 50. The vertical link bar 50 extends through an elongated opening 72 in the base panel 24 adjacent the side wall 18, and vertically through the interior of the cabinet 12 (but along the side wall 18), where the top end of the vertical link bar 50 is pivotably connected to the rear end of the control bar 56. The front end of the control bar 56 is pivotably connected to a side edge of the swinging door 34. Thus, the entire control bar 56 is positioned above support panel 30 at all times, and the control bar 56 functions to push and pull the swinging door 34 to cause the swinging door 34 to open and close, respectively.
A biasing element 55 (e.g., a spring) has opposing ends coupled to a portion of the vertical link bar 50 and the base panel 24, and functions to normally bias the vertical link bar 50 downwardly.
The operation of the link system is illustrated in connection with
When the user releases the pedal portion 64, the biasing element 55 will normally bias the vertical link bar 50 downwardly, thereby causing the connecting bar 54, the horizontal link bar 52, and the rear of the support bars 60, 62 to pivot downwardly, with the pedal portion 64 pivoting upwardly (from
Thus, the present invention provides a waste disposal apparatus 10 that has a swinging door 34 which opens outwardly so that the outer surface of the swinging door 34 will not come into contact with the food or trash that is being deposited into the cabinet 12 of the apparatus 10. The present invention also provides a simple link system that controls the opening and closing motion of the swinging door 34, and which prevents the swinging door 34 from pivoting into the interior of the cabinet 12.
While the description above refers to particular embodiments of the present invention, it will be understood that many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit thereof. The accompanying claims are intended to cover such modifications as would fall within the true scope and spirit of the present invention.
Claims
1. A waste disposal apparatus for containing a trash can therein, comprising:
- a cabinet having a front wall, a rear wall, opposite side walls, and a base that are connected to each other to define an enclosed interior space, with the front wall defining an opening space;
- a swinging door having a bottom edge that is pivotably connected to the front wall, the swinging door movable between a closed position where the swinging door blocks the opening space, and an opened position where the swinging door is pivoted away from the interior space of the cabinet;
- a foot pedal pivotably connected to the base; and
- a link system operationally connected to the foot pedal and the swinging door to pivot the swinging door between the closed and opened positions, while preventing the swinging door from pivoting into the interior space of the cabinet.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, further including a front door pivotably connected to the front wall.
3. The apparatus of claim 1, further including a top panel connected to top ends of the rear wall and the side walls.
4. The apparatus of claim 1, further including a plurality of wheels provided at the base.
5. The apparatus of claim 1, further including a handle bar provided on the front wall.
6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the link system includes:
- a vertical link bar having a bottom end coupled to the foot pedal, and extending through an opening in the base along one of the side walls to a top end; and
- a control bar having one end pivotably connected to the top end of the vertical link bar, and another end pivotably connected to the swinging door.
7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the entire control bar is at a vertical level that is higher than the top end of the vertical link bar when the swinging door is in the closed position, and the entire control bar is at a vertical level that is lower than the top end of the vertical link bar when the swinging door is in the opened position.
8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the entire control bar is at a vertical level that is higher than the bottom edge of the swinging door when the swinging door is in the opened position, and the entire control bar is at a vertical level that is lower than the bottom edge of the swinging door when the swinging door is in the closed position.
9. The apparatus of claim 6, further including:
- a U-shaped bracket connected to the base;
- wherein the foot pedal has at least one support leg pivotably connected to the bracket;
- a horizontal link bar having one end connected to the at least one support leg; and
- a connecting bar that connects the horizontal link bar and the bottom end of the vertical link bar.
10. The apparatus of claim 6, further including:
- a biasing element coupled to the vertical link bar, the biasing element normally biasing the vertical link bar in a downward direction.
11. A waste disposal assembly, comprising:
- a waste disposal apparatus that includes: a cabinet having a front wall, a rear wall, opposite side walls, and a base that are connected to each other to define an enclosed interior space, with the front wall defining an opening space; a swinging door having a bottom edge that is pivotably connected to the front wall, the swinging door movable between a closed position where the swinging door blocks the opening space, and an opened position where the swinging door is pivoted away from the interior space of the cabinet; a foot pedal pivotably connected to the base; and a link system operationally connected to the foot pedal and the swinging door to pivot the swinging door between the closed and opened positions, while preventing the swinging door from pivoting into the interior space of the cabinet; and
- a trash can having an opened top, the trash can retained inside the interior space.
12. The assembly of claim 11, further including a front door pivotably connected to the front wall.
13. The assembly of claim 11, further including a top panel connected to top ends of the rear wall and the side walls.
14. The assembly of claim 11, further including a plurality of wheels provided at the base.
15. The assembly of claim 11, further including a handle bar provided on the front wall.
16. The assembly of claim 11, wherein the link system includes:
- a vertical link bar having a bottom end coupled to the foot pedal, and extending through an opening in the base along one of the side walls to a top end; and
- a control bar having one end pivotably connected to the top end of the vertical link bar, and another end pivotably connected to the swinging door.
17. The assembly of claim 16, wherein the entire control bar is at a vertical level that is higher than the top end of the vertical link bar when the swinging door is in the closed position, and the entire control bar is at a vertical level that is lower than the top end of the vertical link bar when the swinging door is in the opened position.
18. The assembly of claim 16, wherein the entire control bar is at a vertical level that is higher than the bottom edge of the swinging door when the swinging door is in the opened position, and the entire control bar is at a vertical level that is lower than the bottom edge of the swinging door when the swinging door is in the closed position.
19. The assembly of claim 16, further including:
- a U-shaped bracket connected to the base;
- wherein the foot pedal has at least one support leg pivotably connected to the bracket;
- a horizontal link bar having one end connected to the at least one support leg; and
- a connecting bar that connects the horizontal link bar and the bottom end of the vertical link bar.
20. The assembly of claim 16, further including:
- a biasing element coupled to the vertical link bar, the biasing element normally biasing the vertical link bar in a downward direction.
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 17, 2005
Publication Date: Dec 21, 2006
Inventor: Gary Lim (Palos Verdes Peninsula, CA)
Application Number: 11/155,417
International Classification: A47G 29/12 (20060101);