Trash Container
A trash container includes a base, a liner supported by the base to receive and store trash, a body, supported by the base, configured to house the liner, a lid hingedly mounted to the body and a pedal. A link assembly is operably connected to the pedal and the lid to translate an up-down pivot motion of the pedal to an up-down pivot motion for the lid. The link assembly includes a lift bar and at least one first arm. The link assembly provides a direct rigid connection between the pedal and the lid. At least one damper assembly is operably connected to the link assembly for dampening opening and closing motions of the lid. The at least one damper assembly includes a damper and a second arm moveably connected to the damper and the at least one first arm.
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The present invention relates to household items, and in particular, to a trash container that incorporates a number of improvements and enhancements.
Trash containers are conventionally manufactured utilizing various materials such as plastic, aluminum, stainless steel and the like. The size of such containers can vary based on the location and use of the container. For example, a trash container located in a public park may be large and made of heavy material such as stone or cement with a large opening for trash. Alternatively, a trash container in an office may be made of a lightweight material such as plastic and be relatively small in size.
Trash containers often employ lids and covers to contain the trash and its associated odor, to hide the trash from view, and to prevent the trash from contaminating areas beyond the lid. Due to the nature of the disparate environments in which a trash an container is located, features of the trash containers can differ. In one environment, such as a restaurant, a swing top may be preferred whereas in a restroom a lift top lid is appropriate. In addition, the trash container can be stationary (e.g., on legs, flat bottom, etc.) or mobile, such as on wheels, to conveniently locate the trash container as desired.
Conventional trash containers have been improved over the years to make them more user-friendly, sanitary, and hygienic. For example, many trash containers are now provided with a foot pedal positioned adjacent the base of the trash container so that a user can step on the foot pedal to open the lid of the trash container, thereby freeing up the user's hands to deposit trash, or to change the plastic liner or bag that is used to line the trash container. Other trash container have even provided an interior metal or plastic liner that fits inside the trash container, and which can be removed to be washed.
However, these conventional trash containers still suffer from a number of drawbacks such as inefficient mechanisms, short product life, and the like. Such difficulties can be caused by inadequate and/or poor design. For example, the foot pedals on some of the conventional trash containers are noisy to use. In particular, stepping on a foot pedal of a conventional trash container often results in a loud banging noise as the lid is opened, and releasing the step on the foot pedal will also result in another loud banging noise as the lid slams shut under the force of gravity. These banging actions also result in wear and tear to the contacting parts.
In light of the foregoing, it becomes evident that there is a need for a trash container that would provide a solution to one or more of the deficiencies from which the prior art and/or conventional trash containers have suffered.
BRIEF DESCRIPTIONIn accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a trash container includes a base, a liner supported by the base to receive and store trash, a body, supported by the base, configured to house the liner, a lid hingedly mounted to the body and a pedal. A link assembly is operably connected to the pedal and the lid to translate an up-down pivot motion of the pedal to an up-down pivot motion for the lid. The link assembly includes a lift bar and at least one first arm. The link assembly provides a direct rigid connection between the pedal and the lid. At least one damper assembly is operably connected to the link assembly for dampening opening and closing motions of the lid. The at least one damper assembly includes a damper and a second arm moveably connected to the damper and the at least one first arm.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a trash can container includes a base, a liner supported by the base to receive and store trash, a body supported by the base for housing the liner, a lid hingedly mounted to the body and a pedal. A link assembly is operably connecting the pedal to the lid. A damper assembly is operably connected to the link assembly for dampening motion of the link assembly. The link assembly comprises a lift bar and an arm. The lift bar is connected to the pedal and pivotally connected the base. The arm includes a first end connected to the lift bar and a second end operably connected to the lid. The lift bar defines a pivot axis for the pedal and the arm. The lift bar and the arm provide a generally perpendicular, rigid connection from the pedal to the lid.
In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention, a trash can container includes a base, a liner supported by the base to receive and store trash, a body supported by the base for housing the liner, a lid hingedly mounted to the body and a pedal. A link assembly is operably connecting the pedal to the lid. A damper assembly is mounted to the base and operably connected to the link assembly for dampening motion of the link assembly. The damper assembly comprises a damper, and arm and a moveable member. The arm includes a first end pivotally connected to the damper and a second end. The second end of the arm engages the moveable member, which is connected to the link assembly.
Still other aspects of the invention will become apparent from a reading and understanding of the detailed description of the preferred embodiments hereinbelow.
The present invention may take physical form in certain parts and arrangements of parts, several embodiments of which will be described in detail in this specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings which form a part of the invention.
It should, of course, be understood that the description and drawings herein are merely illustrative and that various modifications and changes can be made in the structures disclosed without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. It will also be appreciated that the various identified components of the trash container disclosed herein are merely terms of art that may vary from one manufacturer to another and should not be deemed to limit the present invention. All references to direction and position, unless otherwise indicated, refer to the orientation of the trash container illustrated in the drawings.
Referring now to the drawings, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views,
In the depicted embodiment, the outer shell 20 has a generally rectangular conformation including a front wall 30, a rear wall 32 and opposed side walls 34 and 36. Alternative conformations for the outer shell are also contemplated. For example, it is possible to provide the outer shell 20 in a generally cylindrical, oval or egg shape. As shown in
With reference to
With continued reference to
A link assembly 88 (illustrated in greater detail in
With reference again to
With continued reference to
With reference now to
The damper assembly 180 employs fewer components and thus, is simpler and less costly than conventional designs. For example, the mechanism is distinguished from conventional designs that employ an inefficient mechanical implementation wherein a bar extends the length of the trash container (e.g., from front to back) to connect a pedal to a vertical link. Such designs often include a plurality of components including a cushioning element to compensate for such a cumbersome mechanism.
As shown in
As shown in
The operation of the trash container 10 will now be described. When the trash container is not in use, the lid 24 is normally closed. With reference to
When the user releases the pedal 80, the weight of the lid 24, as well as gravity, the urging force of the damper assembly 180 and the natural bias of the spring 270, will cause the lid 24 to pivot downwardly to its closed position. Specifically, as the pedal is released, the weight of the lid causes the pin 160 to slide in the slotted opening 162 and the arm 94 to pivot back to its inclined first position. Simultaneously, the piston 188 is urged outwardly by the cylinder 204 which pivots the arm 190 towards the outer shell rear wall 32. This, in turn, moves the reciprocating member. As the second end 224 of the reciprocating member moves towards the bracket 250, the connecting member 230, which is coupled to the arm 94 and the reciprocating member, pivots the arm 94 towards the outer shell rear wall. The damper assembly will partially resist the downward vertical movement, so the entire downward motion will be slowed, which causes the lid to close slowly, and the pedal 80 will be lowered slowly, all to avoid any annoying loud slamming actions or noises.
Similar to the aforementioned embodiment, a second embodiment of a trash container is illustrated in
In this embodiment, a trash container 10′ includes a pedal 80′ operably connected to a link assembly 300. Similar to the first embodiment, the link assembly generally includes a pedal bar 302 and a pair of arms 94′ that cooperate to translate an up-down pivot motion of the pedal 80′ to an up-down pivot motion for the lid 24′. The arms extend through the elongated openings 170′ of the base 28′ and are each operably connected to the lid. A pair of damper assemblies 180′ are operably mounted to the base 28′ and the arms 94′ to dampen the opening and closing motion of the lid so that the lid can open and close slowly and not experience hard slamming motions. The arms 94′ and the damper assemblies 180′ have configurations similar to that described above relative to the first embodiment.
As to a further discussion of the structure, manner of usage and operation of the second embodiment, the same should be apparent from the above description relative to the first embodiment. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided.
The present disclosure has been described with reference to several embodiments. Obviously, modifications and alterations will occur to others upon reading and understanding the preceding detailed description. It is intended that the disclosure be construed as including all such modifications and alterations insofar as they come within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.
Claims
1. A trash container comprising:
- a base;
- a liner supported by the base to receive and store associated trash;
- a body, supported by the base, configured to house the liner;
- a lid hingedly mounted to the body;
- a pedal;
- a link assembly operably connected to the pedal and the lid to translate an up-down pivot motion of the pedal to an up-down pivot motion for the lid, the link assembly including a lift bar and at least one first arm, wherein the link assembly provides a direct rigid connection between the pedal and the lid; and
- at least one damper assembly operably connected to the link assembly for dampening opening and closing motions of the lid, the at least one damper assembly including a damper and a second arm moveably connected to the damper and the at least one first arm.
2. The trash container of claim 1, wherein the lift bar defines a pivot axis for the pedal and the at least one first arm, the lift bar including a projection connected to the pedal.
3. The trash container of claim 2, wherein the pedal includes a top section mounted to a bottom section, the projection being mounted in a groove located on at least one of the top section and the bottom section.
4. The trash container of claim 2, wherein the lift bar is generally U-shaped.
5. The trash container of claim 1, wherein the at least one first arm includes a first end operably connected to the lift bar, the first end including first and second opposed grooves, wherein the lift bar is received in one of the first and second grooves.
6. The trash container of claim 5, wherein the at least one first arm includes a second end operably connected to the lid, the second end being configured to receive one end of an associated pivot pin, the other end of the associated pivot pin being received in a slotted opening located on the lid.
7. The trash container of claim 1, wherein the at least one arm has a generally triangular conformation.
8. The trash container of claim 1, wherein the at least one damper assembly further includes a reciprocating member having a first end operably connected to the at least one first arm and a second end operably connected to the second arm.
9. The trash container of claim 8, wherein the second of the reciprocating member includes an opening, the second arm projecting at least partially through the opening.
10. The trash container of claim 8, further comprising a bracket, the bracket including a first section mounted to the base and a second section, the second section movably securing the reciprocating member to the base.
11. The trash container of claim 10, further comprising a spring having one end mounted to the bracket and an opposite end mount to the at least one first arm.
12. The trash container of claim 1, wherein the base includes at least one first opening and at least one second opening, the at least one first arm extending upwardly through the at least one first opening and the second arm of the at least one damper assembly extending upwardly through the at least one second opening.
13. A trash can container including a base, a liner supported by the base to receive and store associated trash, a body supported by the base for housing the liner, a lid hingedly mounted to the body, a pedal, a link assembly operably connecting the pedal to the lid and a damper assembly operably connected to the link assembly for dampening motion of the link assembly, the link assembly comprising:
- a lift bar connected to the pedal and pivotally connected to the base; and
- an arm including a first end connected to the lift bar and a second end operably connected to the lid,
- wherein the lift bar defines a pivot axis for the pedal and the arm,
- wherein the lift bar and the arm provide a generally perpendicular, rigid connection from the pedal to the lid.
14. The trash container of claim 13, wherein the lift bar is generally U-shaped including a base section and first and second arms extending from the base section in a first direction, the lift bar further including a projection extending from the base section in a second direction, the projection being mounted to the pedal.
15. The trash container of claim 14, wherein the first end of the arm includes first and second extending grooves, wherein at least one of the first and second arms of the lift bar is received in one of the first and second grooves.
16. The trash container of claim 13, wherein the second end of the arm includes an opening dimensioned to receive one end of an associated pivot pin, the other end of the associated pivot pin being received in a slotted opening located on the lid.
17. The trash container of claim 13, wherein the arm has a generally triangular conformation.
18. A trash can container including a base, a liner supported by the base to receive and store associated trash, a body supported by the base for housing the liner, a lid hingedly mounted to the body, a pedal, a link assembly operably connecting the pedal to the lid and a damper assembly mounted to the base and operably connected to the link assembly for dampening motion of the link assembly, the damper assembly comprising:
- a damper; and
- an arm including a first end pivotally connected to the damper and a second end, the second end engaging a moveable member, the moveably member being connected to the link assembly.
19. The trash container of claim 18, wherein the moveable member includes an opening, the second end of the arm projecting at least partially through the opening, wherein pivotal movement of the arm translates to a reciprocating movement of the moveable member.
20. The trash container of claim 18, further comprising a bracket, the bracket including a first section mounted to the base and a second section, the second section mounting the moveable member to the base.
21. The trash container of claim 20, further comprising a spring having one end mounted to the bracket and an opposite end mount to the link assembly.
Type: Application
Filed: Jan 8, 2007
Publication Date: Jul 10, 2008
Applicant:
Inventors: David J. Boll (Avon, OH), Jeffrey M. Kalman (Cleveland Heights, OH), Craig M. Saunders (Rocky River, OH)
Application Number: 11/650,815