Trash can shoe

Abstract

A trash can shoe comprising a substantially nonlinear body having an upper and lower surface with a thickness therebetween, a proximal and distal end; and a means for reuseably and removably attaching the body to a trash can.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a trash can shoe, particularly, a device providing means for extending the life expectancy of a trash can.

Garbage, refuse, trash can, pail, and or receptacle (hereafter trash can(s)) have been around for quite sometime, wherein a more contemporary use thereof has evolved into containers having various characteristics. The user of such a device often encounters issues depending on the characteristics of the user, such as age, strength, health, and other factors, in maneuvering such device, particularly when having contents therein. For example, wheels have been included in such device so as to assist the user in transporting the container, particularly when such container has heavy contents, typically, when loaded to the brim thereof as commented in U.S. Pat. No. 6,769,702 to Young. Moreover, there is a pattern of wear which appears statistically common amongst receptacles. For example, generally receptacles have either one or two handles equidistant form one another. In wheel less models, the bottom thereof become worn, in single handle models, opposite from the handle, in multihandled, directly below the handles, wherein wheels have been included to not only assist the user in transport, but to reduce wear, however, there are still limitations and wear still does occur.

A second benefit of having wheels on the bottom of the can is that when transporting the loaded can from the side of one's abode to a staged area awaiting pickup, typically the curb, the can may be tipped wherein only the wheels are in contact with the ground. However, the wheels only protect the bottom of the can in a very limited orientation, as described herein above. That is, the garbage collectors (i.e., garbage men and women), who typically handle hundreds of cans a day, typically drag two cans at a time, one by each hand, from the curb to the vehicle, not using the tilting feature of the wheels, thereby causing premature wear of the bottom of the can. Secondly, once the collector is positioned with the loaded can at the mouth of the vehicle, each can is typically lifted by the handle, typically located on the same side as the wheels thereby causing the opposite corners/edges of the bottom of the can to come in contact with the ground, wherefrom the can is emptied by inversion.

Thirdly, once each can is emptied, it is typically dropped to the ground, often on edge without wheels, and thereafter launched in a sliding manner on the bottom back to the curb. Thus, the function of the wheeled feature is essentially used only by the owner of the can when transporting to and from the curb.

However, the commonality of the problem is not so limited. For example, landscaping pails, typically, the 60 gallon variety and green, although there is a plethora of colours used, are used by landscapers for grass clippings, leaves etc. Due in part, to the large capacity (volume wise) and handling of the container is commonly dragged or pushed to and from various points of use. More particularly, when a landscaper is operating a walk behind mower, such as, inter alia, a Bobcat, having anywhere from about a 30″ to 48″ width cut, and the grass clippings are emptied into the pail, and the operator needs to move to another location, for example from the front lawn to the back, the pail is positioned between the front wheels of the mower and pushed to the new location, which is not as wearing on the bottom portion of the pail if all along a grassy surface. However, once the operator completes mowing the lawn, the pail is then again placed between the wheels of the mower and commonly pushed from the grassy location across non-grassy locations such as the patio, driveway, street, and if the landscaper has multiple houses to cut in a development, it is further not uncommon for the operator to venture up and down the street to the location of the truck to dump the contents of the pail. Moreover, this landscaping pail is often dropped from the back of the vehicle upon completion of the dumping process, onto the edge of the bottom.

In light thereof, an advantage of this invention is to provide a device which may be secured to a trash receptacle thereby further extending the useful life expectancy of the trash receptacle.

It is a further advantage of the invention to provide a device which is of relatively noncomplex construction, inexpensive to manufacture, and easy to use, and replace.

Hence, it would be beneficial therefore to provide a device wherein the trash can shoe may be manufactured essentially unitarily, wherein the end user may install, remove, and replace efficiently.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A trash can shoe comprising a substantially nonlinear body having an upper and lower surface with a thickness therebetween, a proximal and distal end; and a means for reuseably and removably attaching said body to a trash can.

A trash can shoe system comprising a plurality of substantially nonlinear bodies, each body having an upper and lower surface with a thickness therebetween, a proximal and distal end; a means for reuseably and removably attaching said body to a trash can; wherein said plurality is attached equidistant about the bottommost portion of a trash can, either internally, or preferably externally.

A trash can shoe comprising a substantially nonlinear body having an upper and lower surface with a thickness therebetween, a center with an outer periphery; and a means for reuseably and removably attaching said body to a trash can.

Other advantages and novel features of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The following drawings, in which like reference characters indicate like parts, are provided for illustration of the invention and are not intended to limit the invention in any manner whatsoever.

FIG. 1A is bottom view of common rectangular wheeled unihandled trash can;

FIG. 1B is a bottom view of a cylindrical non-wheeled unihandled trash can;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3A is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention as mounted on a common rectangular wheeled unihandled trash can;

FIG. 3B is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention as mounted on a cylindrical non-wheeled multi-handled trash can; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of another preferred embodiment of the present invention, for use with a cylindrical non-wheeled unihandled trash can as illustrated in FIG. 1B hereinabove.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following descriptions of the preferred embodiments are presented to illustrate the present invention and are not to be construed to limit the claims in any manner whatsoever.

Referring now to the drawings, FIGS. 1A through 4, wherein like reference numerals identify similar structural elements of the device set forth herein. FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrate two common trash cans, the former a rectangular wheeled unihandled can, and the later a common cylindrical landscapers pail (e.g., nonwheeled unihandled) as set forth above, wherein the typical pail is about 27 inches in height, about 23 inches in outside diameter around the base. Moreover, wherein both figures, reference A indicates the common points of wear due to contact with ground (wherein the later has a common footing B, about 4 inches in the 60 gallon version, about the outer periphery on the bottommost portion of the pail).

In a preferred embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, a trash can shoe 1 comprises a substantially nonlinear body 2 having an upper and lower surface 4,6 respectively, with a thickness 8 therebetween, and a width 10. The shoe 1 further includes a proximal and distal end 12,14 respectively; and a means 16 for reuseably and removably attaching said body 2 to a trash can.

The body 2 is preferably made from a material having, inter alia, the following characteristics, lightweight, oxidation resistant, oxidation proof, as the lifting of a can with contents therein would not need unnecessary weight, and since the use of the trash receptacle is typically outdoors, the material should be at least rust resistant, preferably rust proof. Moreover, the body 2 is preferably made from a material having a non-low hardness factor (wherein brittleness is the opposite of toughness and is a function of temperature and speed of impact), that is, the material should be durable. The body 2 should be from a material having a non-high brittleness factor, such as polyvinyl chloride, such that the material should not develop fissures under typical climate oscillations. For example, whether the material is used in Death Valley, Calif., or whether in Fairbanks, Ak., the material should be durable enough to withstand such climate oscillations. In this regard, the thickness 8 of the material will be dependent on the material used, and the climate it is exposed to, however, if polyvinyl chloride is utilized, the thickness 8 should be about 0.25 inches+/−0.1875 inches.

A trash can shoe affixation means 16 may be one or more of the following either alone or in combination, namely, a threaded fastener, an adhesive, a rivet, and interlocking features. FIG. 2 illustrates a preferred embodiment of the affixation means 16 wherein a hole 16a near each end 12,14 wherein a self tapping screw 16b is inserted from the lower surface 4 towards the upper surface 6 and into the trash can. It is preferred that screw 16b is recessed and/or counter sunk such that the head of the screw 16b when completely installed is below the lower surface 4. This system of using a threaded fastener 16b provides for the quickest installation, and/or replacement of a body 2. Moreover, other types of fixation devices are envisioned to be utilized. Furthermore, in one embodiment, the trash can shoe 1 is configured and dimensioned wherein the upper surface 4 is configured and dimensioned to mate with a trash can. For example, the substantially nonlinear body 2 is substantially ski shaped as illustrated in FIG. 2, wherein it 2 is elongated and having at least one end 14 curved upwardly, this curved feature provides protection on a plurality of sides, namely, the bottommost portion of the container, as well as when the container is orientated and/or tilted about its axis thereby causing contact between a second portion of the container other than the bottommost portion thereof, such as the wall of the container (not shown).

In an alternative embodiment, also not shown, the shoe 1 may be mounted internally to the can, for example, to plug a hole from the inside rather than from the outside as in the former scenario, although this internal mounting would not necessarily be limited to a reactive act of plugging a wear hole, but may be proactively installed prior to the development of a wear hole so as maintain the integrity of the can, thereby preventing leakage of prospective contents, whether liquid or solid.

In still another alternative embodiment, also not shown, the shoe 1 may comprise a plurality of bodies 2a,2b wherein the first and second bodies 2a,2b may be assembled so as to substantially sandwich the container. For example, the first and second embodiments set forth herein above, may be taken together, that is, one body 2a is installed internally, and the second body 2b is installed externally. In such embodiment, lower surface 6 of the first body 2a would be contoured to mate with the inside of the container, whereas the upper surface 4 of the second body 2b would be contoured to mate with the outer surface of the container.

FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate another preferred embodiment, a trash can shoe system 101 comprising: a plurality of substantially nonlinear bodies 102, each body 102 having an upper and lower surface 104, 106 with a thickness 108 therebetween, a proximal and distal end 112, 114; a means 116 for reuseably and removably attaching said body 102 to a trash can; wherein said plurality 102 is attached substantially equidistant about the bottommost portion of a trash can, either internally, or preferably, externally to the trash can. More particularly, FIG. 3A illustrates a plurality of bodies 102 attached to the bottommost portion of the pail at the common wear points for a unihandled wheeled trash receptacle. Whereas FIG. 3B illustrates a plurality bodies 102 attached at the common wear points for a multihandled wheel-less cylindrical pail.

Wherein said body 102 is made from a material having characteristics selected from the group consisting of lightweight, oxidation resistant, and oxidation proof, and wherein each body 102 is made from a material having a non-low hardness factor. Each body 102 is made from a material having a non-high brittleness factor, such as from polyvinyl chloride or other durable material, such that the material shant develop fissures while exposed to typical climate oscillations. The thickness 108 of the material should be about 0.25 inches+/−about 0.1875 inches.

The affixation means 116 is selected from the group consisting of a threaded fastener, an adhesive, a rivet, and interlocking features taken alone or in combination, but may also include other common types of fixation devices. The upper surface 106 is configured and dimensioned to mate with a trash can.

FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate a still further embodiment, a trash can shoe 201 comprising: a substantially nonlinear body 202 having an upper and lower surface 204, 206 with a thickness 208 therebetween, a center 209 with an outer periphery 211 having a height 213 and overall width 215. The shoe 201 further a portion optionally removed in the center 209.

The shoe 201 further having an affixation means 216 for reuseably and removably attaching said body 202 to a trash can; wherein said body 202 is made from a material having characteristics selected from the group consisting of lightweight, oxidation resistant, and oxidation proof. The body 202 is made from a material having a non-low hardness factor. The body 202 is made from a material having a non-high brittleness factor such as polyvinyl chloride, or a metal. The affixation means 216 is selected from the group consisting of a threaded fastener, an adhesive, a rivet, and interlocking features, wherein FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate an interlocking feature.

In this embodiment, the upper surface 204 and the outer periphery 211 are configured and dimensioned to mate with a trash can. In this embodiment, it is preferred that the means 216 is interlocking, for example, the shoe 201 maybe is placed onto the bottommost portion of a trash can by inverting the can and placing the shoe 201 on top of the can and pressing fitting the two together, e.g., snap fit; or the shoe 201 may be positioned and then placing the upright can on top of the shoe 201 and press fitting the two together. Although not required, an optional center hole 209 may be included and is most useful when it is desired to remove the shoe 201 from a particular can. For example, when the can is inverted, the pressure may be applied by the operator directly against the bottom of the can through the optional center hole 209 while the shoe 201 is stabilized and or vice versa. Additionally, on older cans, it may be necessary to supplement this snap fit technology by incorporating a threaded fastener so as to stabilize the interconnectivity between the shoe 201 and the older can.

Moreover, all of the above referenced patents; patent applications and publications are hereby incorporated by reference. Many variations of the present invention will suggest themselves to those of ordinary skill in the art in light of the above detailed description. All such obvious modifications are within the full-intended spirit and scope of the claims of the present application.

Claims

1. A trash can shoe comprising:

a substantially nonlinear body having an upper and lower surface with a thickness therebetween, a proximal and distal end; and

a means for reuseably and removably attaching said body to a trash can.

2. A trash can shoe as in claim 1, wherein said body is made from a material having characteristics selected from the group consisting of lightweight, oxidation resistant, and oxidation proof.

3. A trash can shoe as in claim 1, wherein said body is made from a material having a non-low hardness factor.

4. A trash can shoe as in claim 1, wherein said body is made from a material having a non-high brittleness factor.

5. A trash can shoe as in claim 1, wherein said body is made from polyvinyl chloride.

6. A trash can shoe as in claim 1, wherein said means is selected from the group consisting of a threaded fastener, an adhesive, a rivet, and interlocking features.

7. A trash can shoe as in claim 1, wherein said upper surface is configured and dimensioned to mate with a trash can.

8. A trash can shoe system comprising:

a plurality of substantially nonlinear bodies, each body having an upper and lower surface with a thickness therebetween, a proximal and distal end;

a means for reuseably and removably attaching said body to a trash can; wherein said plurality is attached substantially equidistant about the bottommost portion of a trash can.

9. A trash can shoe system as in claim 8, wherein said body is made from a material having characteristics selected from the group consisting of lightweight, oxidation resistant, and oxidation proof.

10. A trash can shoe system as in claim 8, wherein said body is made from a material having a non-low hardness factor.

11. A trash can shoe system as in claim 8, wherein said body is made from a material having a non-high brittleness factor.

12. A trash can shoe system as in claim 8, wherein said body is made from polyvinyl chloride.

13. A trash can shoe system as in claim 8, wherein said means is selected from the group consisting of a threaded fastener, an adhesive, a rivet, and interlocking features.

14. A trash can shoe system as in claim 8, wherein said upper surface is configured and dimensioned to mate with a trash can.

15. A trash can shoe system as in claim 8, wherein said plurality is externally attached about the bottommost portion of a trash can.

16. A trash can shoe system as in claim 8, wherein said plurality is internally attached about the bottommost portion of a trash can.

17. A trash can shoe comprising:

a substantially nonlinear body having an upper and lower surface with a thickness therebetween, a center with an outer periphery; and

a means for reuseably and removably attaching said body to a trash can.

18. A trash can shoe as in claim 17, wherein said body is made from a material having characteristics selected from the group consisting of lightweight, oxidation resistant, and oxidation proof.

19. A trash can shoe as in claim 17, wherein said body is made from a material having a non-low hardness factor.

20. A trash can shoe as in claim 17, wherein said body is made from a material having a non-high brittleness factor.

21. A trash can shoe as in claim 17, wherein said body is made from polyvinyl chloride.

22. A trash can shoe as in claim 17, wherein said means is selected from the group consisting of a threaded fastener, an adhesive, a rivet, and interlocking features.

23. A trash can shoe as in claim 17, wherein said upper surface is configured and dimensioned to mate with a trash can.

24. A trash can shoe as in claim 17, wherein said body is made from a material comprising metal.