RECEPTACLE HAVING A SECURABLE LID

Abstract

A trash receptacle includes a receptacle body, a lid, and a first locking mechanism for securing the lid to the receptacle body. The first locking mechanism includes a locking element coupled to one of the lid or receptacle body and a locking aperture coupled to the other of the lid or receptacle body. The locking element engages the locking aperture to secure the lid to the receptacle body. The receptacle may include a second locking mechanism including a strap and a pair of connecting members coupled to the receptacle body. The ends of the strap are coupled to the connecting members such that the strap tightly engages the lid to secure the lid to the receptacle body. Each of the first and second locking mechanisms may be used alone with a receptacle, or alternatively may be used in combination to provide additional securement of the lid.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/622,864 filed on Jan. 12, 2007, the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to receptacles having lids, and more particularly to a trash receptacle having a lid capable of being secured thereto.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Trash and garbage receptacles of the type having a body for reception of waste material and a cooperating cover or lid often present a problem due to the lid becoming dislodged or otherwise separated from the body so that its contents are spilled or removed from the receptacle. It is frustrating to take valuable time and effort to collect waste material and redeposit it in the receptacle on the occasion that the waste material has been undesirably removed from the receptacle. This happens, for example, when industrious animals, wind, or other motive forces gain access to the contents of the receptacle and spread waste material all over the yard, driveway, or street curb. Such an event is inconvenient, unsightly, and perhaps a source of embarrassment.

Various mechanisms for temporarily securing the lid to the receptacle body are known. For instance, some systems simply rely on friction to secure the lid to the receptacle body. Such systems have proven ineffective because an animal or strong wind can readily overcome the frictional force to dislodge the lid. Other systems may include various mechanisms for securing the lid to the receptacle body. Many of these systems, however, are relatively complex, difficult to manipulate, prone to damage, ineffective, or suffer from other disadvantages or drawbacks.

Therefore, there is a need for an improved receptacle having a securable lid which is easy to use, resists damage, and is effective in securing the lid to the receptacle body so as to prevent undesired removal of the receptacle contents.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention in various embodiments is directed to a trash receptacle having a receptacle body, a lid, and a first locking mechanism for at least partially securing the lid to the receptacle body that overcomes the drawbacks of previous systems. The receptacle may optionally have a second locking mechanism for providing additional securement of the lid to the receptacle body.

A trash receptacle in accordance with one embodiment of the invention includes a receptacle body having a bottom wall and at least one sidewall that collectively define a cavity having an opening for accessing the cavity and adapted to hold various items, including waste material. The lid has an upper surface and an opposed lower surface and is adapted to cover the opening when engaged with the receptacle body. The receptacle includes a first locking mechanism having an unlocked position, in which the lid is capable of moving away from the receptacle body, and a locked position, in which the lid is prevented from moving away from the receptacle body. The first locking mechanism includes a locking element coupled to one of the lid or receptacle body and including a projecting member. Additionally, the first locking member includes a locking aperture coupled to the other of the lid or receptacle body. When the first locking member is in the locked position, the projecting member is received in the locking aperture to at least partially secure the lid to the receptacle body.

In one embodiment, the locking element includes a tab, and preferably two opposed tabs, extending from the lower surface of the lid and each having the projecting member extending therefrom in a generally circumferential direction. The receptacle body may include a handle, and preferably two handles, each having a pair of opposed, spaced apart lateral walls with an elongate member extending therebetween. The locking apertures may be formed in at least one of the lateral walls of the handles. In this embodiment, the first locking mechanism is movable between the unlocked and locked positions through rotation of the lid in a circumferential direction relative to the receptacle body. The first locking mechanism not only prevents the lid from moving away from the receptacle body when in the locked position, but also prevents rotation of the lid relative to the receptacle body in a first circumferential direction. The lid, however, is capable of freely rotating relative to the receptacle body in a second circumferential direction, opposite the first circumferential direction, when in the locked position.

The receptacle may further include a guiding mechanism to facilitate engagement of the locking element and the locking aperture. To this end, the lid may include a tab extending from its lower surface and adapted to overlie a lip of the receptacle body adjacent the opening. The lip includes a notch formed therein and a slot formed in and extending along the lip. The notch receives the tab when the lid is moved so that the tab overlies the notch. When this occurs, the locking element is adjacent to and aligned with the locking aperture. In this way, as the lid is rotated toward the locked position, the slot guides the locking element into the locking aperture.

The receptacle may include a second locking mechanism having an unlocked position, in which the lid is capable of moving away from the receptacle body, and a locked position, in which the lid is prevented from moving away from the receptacle body. The second locking mechanism includes an elongate strap having a first end and a second end, and a pair of connecting members coupled to the receptacle body. The first and second ends of the strap are coupled to the receptacle body such that the strap tightly engages the lid when in the locked position. The strap may include releasable fasteners, such as hook and loop fasteners, adjacent the first and/or second ends for coupling the end or ends to the connecting members. In addition, the lid may include a groove formed in its upper surface to receive the strap when in the locked position.

In another embodiment of the invention, a locking mechanism for a receptacle having a receptacle body and a lid includes an elongate strap having first end and a second end. A fastener may be coupled to the strap adjacent the first end for coupling the strap to the receptacle body. In one embodiment, the fasteners are used to form a loop in the strap that extends around a pin of the connecting member. The second end of the strap includes a first magnetic component. The first magnetic component cooperates with a second magnetic component on the receptacle or the strap itself to secure the strap to the receptacle. The first magnetic component may be a magnet or a magnetic-attracting component (e.g., iron or steel plate).

The second locking mechanism may be used alone with a trash receptacle to at least partially secure the lid to the receptacle body. To this end, both of the ends of the strap may be releasably coupled to the connecting members, such as with hook and loop fasteners. Alternately, however, one end of the strap may be fixedly secure to one of the connecting members or to the receptacle itself so that only one end of the strap is manipulated by a user to place the second locking mechanism in the locked position. As noted above, the second locking mechanism may also be used in combination with the first locking mechanism to provide additional securement of the lid to the receptacle body.

These and other objects, advantages and features of the invention will become more readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon review of the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with a general description of the invention given above, and the detailed description given below, serve to explain the invention.

FIG. 1 is a partially disassembled elevation view of a receptacle and lid in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the lid shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top view of the receptacle body of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an elevation view of the receptacle of FIG. 1 in an assembled state;

FIG. 4A is another elevation view of the trash receptacle of FIG. 4;

FIG. 5 is partially disassembled top view of the trash receptacle of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an assembled top view of the trash receptacle of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of the encircled area of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of the encircled area of FIG. 6;

FIG. 9A is a top view of a strap in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 9B is a bottom view of the strap of FIG. 9A;

FIG. 10A is a top view of an alternative embodiment of a strap in accordance with the invention; and

FIG. 10B is a bottom view of the strap of FIG. 10A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With respect to the figures, and more particularly to FIGS. 1-4, an exemplary embodiment of a receptacle in accordance with the invention is shown. The receptacle 10 includes a receptacle body 12, a lid 14, and a first locking mechanism, generally shown at 16, that operates to at least partially secure the lid 14 to the receptacle body 12 and therefore prevent or reduce the likelihood that the lid 14 is undesirably removed from the receptacle body 12. The receptacle 10 may further include a second locking mechanism, generally shown at 18, that likewise operates to at least partially secure the lid 14 to the receptacle body 12. As discussed in more detail below, the first and second locking mechanisms 16, 18 may each be used alone to secure the lid 14 to the receptacle body 12. Alternatively, the locking mechanisms 16, 18 may be used in combination with each other to provide additional or multiple levels of protection against undesired removal of the lid 14 from the receptacle body 12.

The receptacle body 12 includes at least one sidewall 20 and a bottom wall 22 that defines a cavity 24 for holding various items, such as trash and other waste material. The cavity 24 may be accessed through an opening 26 at an upper end of the receptacle body 12. The receptacle body 12 may further include a lip 27 extending along the periphery of the opening 26 of the receptacle body 12. The lip 27 may be integrally formed with the sidewall 20, or alternatively be coupled to the sidewall 20 during assembly thereof in a manner known to those of ordinary skill in the art. The lip 27 provides a resting or contact surface for the lid 14 and provides structural integrity to the receptacle body 12. The receptacle body 12 may be made of any suitable material capable of providing structural integrity to the receptacle 10, especially when filled with material or during transport of the receptacle 10. For example, and without limitation, the receptacle body 12 may be formed from plastics, wood, composite materials, metals, combinations thereof, or other materials known to those of ordinary skill in the art. Moreover, although not shown, the receptacle body 12 may include wheels, casters, or the like adjacent the bottom wall 22 so as to facilitate transportation of the receptacle 10.

With continued reference to FIGS. 1-4, and as seen in many conventional receptacle constructions, a pair of diametrically opposed handles 28 may extend outwardly from the sidewall 20 of the receptacle body 12 to facilitate, among other things, handling of the receptacle 10. The handles 28 may be located proximate the opening 26 of the receptacle body 12 and each includes a handle opening 30 for insertion of a human hand. In one embodiment, the handle opening 30 is defined by a pair of opposed, spaced-apart lateral walls 32 and an elongate member 34 extending between the lateral walls 32, but spaced from the sidewall 20 of the receptacle body 12 so as to define the handle opening 30. The lateral walls 32 and elongate member 34 are made of materials suitable for human handling and capable of supporting the weight of the receptacle 10 and its contents during use. For example, and without limitation, the handles 28 may be formed from plastics, wood, composite materials, metals, combinations thereof, or other materials known to those of ordinary skill in the art. In one embodiment, the handles 28 may be made of the same material as the receptacle body 12, although not so limited. Moreover, the handles 28 may be formed integral with the receptacle body 12, such as during a molding operation, or be a separate component that is coupled to the receptacle body 12 during assembly, via suitable components and associated methods such as adhesives, welding, rivets, fasteners or others known to those of ordinary skill in the art.

As shown in FIG. 1, the lid 14 may have a generally concave shape with a size suitable to cover the opening 26 to cavity 24 when the lid 14 is engaged with the receptacle body 12, to thereby prevent access to the cavity 24 and its contents. The lid 14 includes an upper surface 36 and an opposed lower surface 38 that define the concave shape of the lid 14. In addition, the lid 14 includes an outer rim or flange 40 that is slightly larger than the receptacle body 12 adjacent the opening 26. Although not shown, the lid 14 may include other features. For example, the lid 14 may include a handle (not shown) that provides a gripping surface so as to facilitate manipulation of the lid 14.

As mentioned above, the receptacle 10 includes a first locking mechanism 16 for at least partially securing the lid 14 to the receptacle body 12. To this end, the first locking mechanism 16 includes a first locking member on the lid 14 and a second locking member on the receptacle body 12 that cooperate to at least partially secure the lid 14 to the receptacle body 12. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, the first locking member may include a pair of diametrically opposed primary tabs 42 extending downwardly from the lower surface 38 of the lid 14 and radially disposed such that, when the lid 14 is placed over the receptacle body 12 following the general direction indicated by arrow 53, the primary tabs 42 lie generally outside the receptacle body 12, adjacent the exposed surface 44 of the sidewall 20. For example, the primary tabs 42 may depend from the outer rim 40 of lid 14.

With reference to FIG. 2, a locking element 46 includes a projecting member extending circumferentially from each of the primary tabs 42. For example, the locking element 46 may be configured as an elongate pin or finger projecting away from primary tabs 42. The locking elements 46 are configured to project in the same circumferential direction, e.g. clockwise or counterclockwise (counterclockwise shown in FIG. 5). While the embodiment depicted in FIG. 2 shows one locking element 46 projecting from each of the primary tabs 42, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that locking elements 46 in a number in excess of one may project from a primary tab 42. Similarly, it is contemplated that a lid 14 may include primary tabs 42 in a number in excess of two. The locking elements 46 may be integrally formed with the primary tabs 42, or alternatively be suitably coupled thereto, via, for example and without limitation, fasteners, adhesives and the like. The material and shape that define the primary tabs 42 and locking elements 46 are suitably chosen such that they can maintain their structural integrity when the locking elements 46 are engaged with a corresponding second locking member on the receptacle body 12. In one embodiment, the primary tabs 42 and locking elements 46 are integrally formed with each other and are both made of the same material that defines the lid 14. Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize suitable materials for the primary tabs 42 and locking elements 46, including those provided above for lid 14.

With reference to FIGS. 1-4, 4A, 5-6, and as mentioned above, a second locking member on the receptacle body 12 cooperates with the first locking member on the lid 14 to at least partially secure the lid 14 to the receptacle body 12. In an exemplary embodiment, the second locking member may be defined by a locking aperture 48 extending through a lateral wall 32 in each of the handles 28. The particular lateral wall 32 that includes the locking aperture 48 is determined by the circumferential direction in which the locking elements 46 project. Each of the locking apertures 48 is suitably shaped to receive one of the locking elements 46 on the lid 14. In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 1, the locking apertures 46 are generally circular in shape to receive a corresponding locking element 46 having a circular cross section. Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the locking elements 46 and locking apertures 48 may have any size and shape so long as the locking apertures 48 may readily receive the locking elements 46 therein. Each locking aperture 48 is radially disposed on the lateral walls 32 of handles 28 such that when the lid 14 is placed over the receptacle body 12, the locking apertures 48 are each radially aligned with a corresponding locking element 46. Each locking aperture 48 is further suitably located on a lateral wall 32 such that the integrity of the lateral wall 32 can be maintained when a locking element 46 is engaged therethrough and a force is applied tending to separate the lid 14 from the receptacle body 12.

With reference to FIG. 5, and in operation, when the lid 14 is placed over the receptacle body 12 such that the locking elements 46 lie adjacent a pair of corresponding locking apertures 48 and is rotated in the direction in which the locking elements 46 project (generally indicated by arrow 57), the locking elements 46 on primary tabs 42 engage the locking apertures 48 in the handles 28, thereby interlocking the receptacle body 12 and the lid 14. The interconnection between the locking elements 46 and locking apertures 48 thus prevents any motion of the lid 14 away from the receptacle body 14 (e.g., such as in an upward direction). Moreover, the primary tabs 42, from which the locking elements 46 project, provide stop surfaces for the locking elements 46 such that, when the locking elements 46 and locking apertures 48 are engaged, the lid 14 is prevented from further rotating in the direction in which the locking elements 46 project (e.g., counterclockwise direction) beyond the point of contact between the lateral wall 32 and a primary tab 42 adjacent thereto.

Thus, when the first locking mechanism 16 is in a locked state, i.e., the locking elements 46 are engaged with corresponding locking apertures 48, the lid 14 is restricted from any relative axial motion away from the receptacle body 12 as well as from relative rotational motion in one circumferential direction (e.g., counterclockwise direction). The first locking mechanism 16 does, however, permit relative motion in the other circumferential direction (e.g., clockwise direction) so that the lid 14 may be moved to an unlocked position, i.e., the locking elements 46 are not engaged with corresponding locking apertures 48, so that the lid 14 may be removed from the receptacle body 12 when so desired by the user.

While the locking element 46 having the projecting portion is shown and described as being coupled to the lid 14 and the locking apertures 48 are shown and described as being coupled to the receptacle body 12, the invention is not so limited. In another embodiment of the invention, the locking element 46 may coupled to the receptacle body 12 and the locking aperture 48 may be coupled to the lid 14 and be within the scope of the invention.

With reference to FIGS. 7 and 8, a guide mechanism, generally shown at 49, cooperates with the first locking mechanism 16 to facilitate engagement of each of the locking elements 46 with a corresponding one of the locking apertures 48. In particular, the guide mechanism 49 is defined by a first guide member on the lid 14 and a cooperating second guide member on the receptacle body 12. The first and second guide members cooperate such that the locking elements 46 are adjacent to and align with the locking apertures 48. A user would then know that a relatively small rotation of the lid 14 will move the first locking mechanism 16 to the locked position, as explained above. To this end, the first guide member is defined by a pair of diametrically opposed secondary tabs or blocks 52 projecting from the lower surface 38 of the lid 14. The secondary tabs 52 are radially disposed such that when the lid 14 is placed over the receptacle body 12, the secondary tabs overlie the lip 27. The secondary tabs 52 may be integrally formed with the lid 14, or alternatively be suitably coupled thereto. Coupling may be achieved, for example and without limitation, via rivets, fasteners, adhesives, or the like. In another aspect of this embodiment, the secondary tabs 52 may be made of the same material defining the lid 14, or may be alternatively made of a different material. Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize suitable materials for secondary tabs 52, including those provided above for lid 14.

The second guide member is defined by a pair of diametrically opposed notches 54 and corresponding slots 56 formed in lip 27. The notches 54 are disposed on the lip 27 and dimensioned such that they receive one of the secondary tabs 52 when the lid 14 is placed over the receptacle body 12 and the secondary tabs 52 overlie the notches 54. The presence of two secondary tabs 52 in conjunction with two notches 54 provides no more than two discrete positions in which the lid 14 can engage the lip 27 and be secured to the receptacle body 12. The location of the notches 54 is such that, when they receive the secondary tabs 52, each of the locking elements 46 will align with and be adjacent to a corresponding locking aperture 48 in a handle 28. The slot or channel 56 circumferentially projects from each of the notches 54 generally in the direction in which the locking elements 46 project. The slots 56 are shaped to receive each of the secondary tabs 52 when the lid 14 is rotated in the direction of projection of the locking elements 46 (e.g., counterclockwise direction). Thus, the slots 56 provide a guided travel trajectory for the lid 14, such that when such trajectory is followed, the locking elements 46 engage the locking apertures 48. The slots 56 are further shaped such their integrity can be maintained despite repeated contact with the secondary tabs 52.

Although it is contemplated that the receptacle 10 incorporating the first locking mechanism 16, as described above, is sufficient to prevent the undesired removal of the lid 14 from the receptacle body 12 in most cases, the first locking mechanism 16 does permit free rotation of the lid 14 relative to receptacle body 12 in one circumferential direction. Thus, the possibility of an industrious animal or other motive force undesirably removing the lid 14 still exists. Thus, as noted above, the receptacle 10 may include a second locking mechanism 18 to provide additional securement of the lid 14 to the receptacle body 12. To this end, the second locking mechanism 18 generally includes a strap 60, and a pair of connecting members 59 coupled to the receptacle body 12. As explained in more detail below, the strap 60 is configured to be coupled to the connecting members and tightly pulled over the lid 14 to secure the lid 14 to the receptacle body 12.

With reference to FIGS. 1, 3, 9A-9B, in one embodiment, the strap 60 is a generally elongate flat member extending along a main axis 66 and having opposed upper and lower surfaces 68, 70 and opposed first and second ends 72, 74. The strap 60 may be made from a flexible, non-stretchable fabric. For example, and without limitation, the strap 60 may be made of woven nylon, cotton, polyester or any other suitable material known to those of ordinary skill in the art capable of sufficiently securing the lid 14 in place against the receptacle body 12 and resisting expected levels of wear and tear as well as animal and weather-induced damage. Strap 60 includes one or more hook and loop fasteners 76, 78 located on the upper surface 68 of the strap 60, at each of the first and second ends 72, 74. For example, the hook and loop fasteners 76, 78 may be Velcro®. In one aspect of this embodiment, each end 72, 74 has at least one hook fastener 76 and at least one loop fastener 78. The hook fasteners 76 and loop fasteners 78 are disposed on each end 72, 74 of the strap 60 such that at least one hook fastener 76 is located at a position along the axis 66 of the strap 60 spaced from that of a loop fastener 78.

The ends 72, 74 of the strap 60 may be releasably coupled to the connecting members 59 on the receptacle body 12. To this end, the connecting members 59 include a pair of opposed, spaced-apart lateral walls 84 coupled to the sidewall 20 of receptacle body 12 and a pin 64 extending between the lateral walls 84, but spaced from the sidewall 20 so as to define a strap channel 82 dimensioned to accept the strap 60. The lateral walls 84 are coupled to the sidewall 20 such that they may be securely held in place. Such engagement may include fixed connections such as, and without limitation, those provided by screws or other suitable fasteners. As shown in FIG. 3, when the second locking mechanism 18 is used in combination with the first locking mechanism 16, the circumferential location of the connecting members 59 may be about 90 degrees offset from one of the handles 28. Alternatively, however, the connecting members 59 may be circumferentially disposed anywhere along the sidewall 20. Additionally, the pins 64 may be coupled to the lateral walls 84 such that it is capable of rotating about an axis along a length of the pins 64. Although the connecting members 59 have been described as having lateral walls 84 and a separate pin 64, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that other configurations for connecting members 59 are possible. For example, the connecting members may be configured as an elongate member having its ends hingedly attached to the sidewall 20.

With reference to FIGS. 4-4A, 9A-9B, the strap 60 may be positioned over the upper surface 36 of the lid 14. One of the ends of the strap 60 is fed through a strap channel 82 in one of the connecting members 59. The end is then bent or folded along a line perpendicular to the axis 66 of the strap 60 and is juxtaposed over another portion of the strap 60 such that the hook fastener 76 may interlock with the loop fastener 78 at that end. The bending, juxtaposition and interlocking as described, define a strap loop 86 at the strap end, which secures the end of the strap 60 about the pin 64. The other end of the strap 60 is then fed through the opposed strap channel 82. The strap 60 is then pulled tight and the second end secured by interlocking the hook and loop fasteners 76, 78 at that end. As recognized by one of ordinary skill in the art, the positions of the hook fasteners 76 and loop fasteners 78 at each of the strap ends 72, 74 are such that when the strap loops 86 are formed, the strap 60 is tightly held against the upper surface 36 of the lid 14 to secure the lid 14 to the receptacle body 12. For example, the position of the hook and loop fasteners 76, 78 along strap 60, or the length of the fasteners 76, 78 is such that the strap 60 may be used on various sizes of receptacles.

When the second locking mechanism 18, defined by the strap 60 and connecting members 59 are in a locked state, i.e., the strap 60 is tightly secured across the lid 14, the second locking mechanism 18 restricts the lid 14 from axial motion away from the receptacle body 12 and may restrict it rotationally, depending on the tightness of the strap 60, such that the lid 14 cannot be rotated in either direction with respect to the receptacle body 12. Thus, the second locking mechanism 18 may provide an added level of motion restriction from that provided by the first locking mechanism 16 described above.

As shown in FIGS. 5-6, to prevent the strap 60 from slipping off the lid 14, the lid 14 may include a groove 62. The groove 62 extends substantially across the diameter and over the upper surface 36 of the lid 14 and is dimensioned and shaped such that it can receive the strap 60 therein. Although depicted as a continuous groove 62 of uniform width, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that alternatively, the groove may have discrete segments, extend only partially over the upper surface 36, or have a non-uniform width, so long as it is capable of receiving the strap 60. The strap 60 extends within the groove 62 on the upper surface 36 of the lid 14, such that the strap 60 is securely held on the upper surface 36 of the lid 14, obviating the need to rely on frictional forces to secure the strap 60 and lid 14 together. With the groove 62, the strap 60 is less likely to slip off the lid 14 thus providing a more secure coupling of the lid 14 to the receptacle body 12. In addition, the positioning of the strap 60 within groove 62 prevents or limits rotation of the lid 14 relative to the receptacle body 12 in both a clockwise and counterclockwise direction, and provides additional securement of the lid 14 to the receptacle body 12.

With reference to FIGS. 10A-10B, in which like reference numerals refer to like features in FIGS. 9A and 9B, an alternative embodiment of a strap 88 is shown. Strap 88 is configured so that one end 90 of the strap 88 is fixedly secured with the connecting member 59, such as around pin 64, or is alternatively fixedly secured to the sidewall 20 of the receptacle body 12 (FIG. 4A). In this alternative embodiment, the fixed end 90 could be secured around the pin 64 or against the sidewall 20 via any suitable components including but not limited to rivets, bolts, screws 92, adhesives or the like. In this way, a user would not have to attend to securing the fixed end 90 to the connecting member 59. Instead, the user would position the strap 88 over the lid 14, feed the free end 94 of the strap 88 through the strap channel 82 in the opposed connecting member, pull the strap 88 tight, and secure the free end 94 using the hook and loop fasteners 76, 78 as previously described. The use of strap 88 to secure the lid 14 to the receptacle body 12 may be easier for some users, and further provides a fixed connection between the strap 88 and the receptacle body 12 so as to prevent losing or otherwise misplacing the strap 88.

In one aspect of this alternative embodiment, the free end 94 of the strap 88 may include a magnet 96 coupled thereto, such that when the strap 88 is not being held against the upper surface 36 of the lid 14, the free end 94 may be releasably coupled to the receptacle body 12. Securing the free end 94 may avoid potential damage to the strap 88 and the unsightliness from a strap end 94 otherwise uncontrollably dangling. Securing the free end 94 to the receptacle body 12 may further prevent the strap 88 from dragging on the ground and getting undesirably wet or dirty. To this end, the receptacle body 12 may be made from a suitable material, such as a metallic material (e.g., iron, steel, magnet of opposite polarity, etc), that is attracted to the magnet 96. When the receptacle body 12 is made of a material that is not attracted to the magnet 96, a magnetic-attracting component (not shown) may be coupled to the receptacle body 12 at a desired location, such as adjacent the fixed end 90 of the strap 88. The magnetic-attracting component may be a metallic plate member that is secured to the receptacle body by screws, rivets, adhesive, or the like. When the strap 88 is not being used, the free end 94 carrying the magnet 96 may be releasably coupled to the magnetic-attracting component on the receptacle body 12.

Although strap 88 is described with the magnet 96 carried by the strap 88 and the magnetic-attracting component on the receptacle body 12, the invention is not so limited. Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that alternatively, the magnet 96 may be positioned on the receptacle body 12 and the magnetic-attracting component may be positioned on the strap. Moreover, while the magnetic components (i.e., either the magnet or the magnetic-attracting component) are described as being disposed on the receptacle body 12 of the receptacle 10, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the magnet 96 or magnetic-attracting component may be alternatively disposed on the lid 14. Alternatively, the magnet 96 or magnetic-attracting component may be disposed on the strap itself.

While the embodiments of FIGS. 1-5 depict a trash receptacle 10 having first and second locking mechanisms 16, 18 used in combination with one another, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that, alternatively, a trash receptacle may include only one of the first and second locking mechanisms 16, 18. Thus, the receptacle 10 may only include the first locking mechanism 16. In such an embodiment, features such as the groove 62 in the lid 14, the connecting members 59, and perhaps other features may be omitted. Similarly, a receptacle may only include the second locking mechanism 18. In such an embodiment, the handles 28 of the trash receptacle 10 may be used as the connecting members for the straps 60, 88. Additionally, other features of the first locking mechanism (e.g., primary tabs 42, locking apertures 48, etc.) may be omitted. In view of the above description, and depending on the particular embodiment, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize the features that may be omitted and yet have the locking mechanism(s) operate for their intended purpose.

While the present invention has been illustrated by a description of various preferred embodiments and while these embodiments have been described in some detail, it is not the intention of the inventor to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such detail. Additional advantages and modifications will readily appear to those skilled in the art. The various features of the invention may be used alone or in numerous combinations depending on the needs and preferences of the user.

Claims

1. A locking mechanism for a trash receptacle having a receptacle body and a lid, the locking mechanism comprising:

an elongate strap having a first end and a second end;

a fastener on the first end of the strap for coupling the strap to the receptacle body; and

a first magnetic component coupled to the second end of the strap to secure the strap to the receptacle.

2. The locking mechanism of claim 1, wherein the first magnetic component includes a magnet.

3. The locking mechanism of claim 1, further comprising:

a second magnetic component adapted to be coupled to one of the receptacle or the strap, the second magnetic component cooperating with the first magnetic component to secure the strap to the receptacle.

4. The locking mechanism of claim 3, wherein the second magnetic component is an iron-containing plate member.

5. The locking mechanism of claim 3, wherein the second magnetic component is a magnet.

6. The locking mechanism of claim 1, wherein the fastener on the first end further comprises hook and loop fasteners.

7. The locking mechanism of claim 1, further comprising a fastener on the second end of the strap for coupling the strap to the receptacle body.

8. The locking mechanism of claim 7, wherein the fastener on the second end further comprises hook and loop fasteners.

9. A locking mechanism in combination with a trash receptacle, comprising:

a receptacle body having a bottom wall and at least one sidewall collectively defining a cavity having an opening for accessing the cavity and adapted to hold waste material therein;

a lid having an upper surface and a lower surface, the lid adapted to cover the opening when engaged with the receptacle body; and

a locking mechanism having an unlocked position and a locked position, the lid capable of being moved away from the receptacle body when in the unlocked position, and the lid prevented from being moved away from the receptacle body when in the locked position, the locking mechanism comprising: an elongate strap having a first end and a second end; a fastener on each of the first and second ends of the strap for coupling the strap to the receptacle body; and a first magnetic component coupled to the second end of the strap to secure the strap to the receptacle when in the unlocked position, wherein the strap tightly engages the upper surface of the lid when the locking mechanism is in the locked position to at least partially secure the lid to the receptacle body.

10. The combination of claim 9, wherein a releasable fastener is on each of the first and second ends of the strap to releasably couple the first and second ends to the receptacle body.

11. The combination of claim 10, wherein the releasable fastener further comprises hook and loop fasteners.

12. The combination of claim 9, wherein the first end of the strap is fixedly coupled to the receptacle body.

13. The combination of claim 9, further comprising:

a pair of opposed connecting members coupled to the receptacle body, wherein each of the first and second ends of the strap couple to one of the connecting members.

14. The combination of claim 13, wherein the connecting members operate as handles for the receptacle.

15. The combination of claim 9, wherein the first magnetic component includes a magnet.

16. The combination of claim 9, further comprising:

a second magnetic component coupled to one of the receptacle or the strap, the second magnetic component cooperating with the first magnetic component to secure the strap to the receptacle.

17. The combination of claim 16, wherein the second magnetic component is an iron-containing plate coupled to the receptacle body.

18. The combination of claim 9, wherein the locking mechanism prevents rotation of the lid relative to the receptacle body.

19. The combination of claim 9, wherein the lid further comprises a groove formed in the upper surface, the strap received in the groove when the locking mechanism is in the locked position.