Damper device and trash can equipped with the same
The present disclosure provides a damper device, comprising: a compression member having a first opening and an expandable casing; a fixed member having a second opening corresponding to the first opening, wherein the fixed member is connected to the compression member, and the second opening and the first opening together form a passage; and a movable member positioned at the passage formed by the first opening and the second opening, wherein when the compression member is being released, the movable member makes the passage open for air to fill in the expandable casing, and when the compression member is being compressed, the movable member makes the passage close to restrict the amount of air discharging from the expandable casing. The present disclosure further provides a trash can equipped with a damper device.
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The present disclosure relates to a damper device and a trash can equipped with the same. By using the damper device, the lid of the trash can is able to close slowly on the main body of the trash can.
DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ARTThere are generally two types of trash cans: open-type trash cans without any covers or lids, and closed-type ones provided with covers or lids that can be shut by users. A closed-type trash can typically include a lid, a container body, a foot pedal and a linkage mechanism. The lower part of the linkage mechanism is positioned near the bottom of the container body and pivotally connected to one end of the foot pedal, while the upper part of the linkage mechanism is positioned near the lid so that the two components are pivotally connected to each other. When a user steps on the foot pedal, the linkage mechanism will move upward and lift the lid open. As the linkage mechanism comes to a highest position it can reach, the lid will remain open at a fixed position. Generally, the linkage mechanism is also connected to a hydraulic mechanism, which allows the linkage mechanism to move downward slowly and return to its original position, so that the lid can close and fit over the container body when the user releases the foot pedal. However, in cold weathers when temperatures are extremely low, the liquid in the hydraulic mechanism may solidify; in consequence, the linkage mechanism cannot move downward slowly to its original position, the lid cannot be closed, and the trash can will remain open. Therefore, an improved trash can is required to overcome the above drawbacks of a conventional closed-type trash can.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT DISCLOSUREAn aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a damper device and a trash can equipped with the same. The trash can includes a damper device positioned on a stand, and a linkage mechanism of the trash can secures a contact member at one end to make the contact member positioned on the damper device. When the foot pedal of the trash can is stepped on, the lid of the trash can will open; when the pedal is released, the linkage mechanism will cause the contact member to move downward to compress the damper device, allowing the lid to close slowly on the container body of the trash can.
According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a damper device is provided, which comprises: a compression member having a first opening and an expandable casing; a fixed member having a second opening corresponding to the first opening, wherein the fixed member is connected to the compression member, and the second opening and the first opening together form a passage; and a movable member positioned at the passage formed by the first opening and the second opening, wherein when the compression member is being released, the movable member makes the passage open for air to enter and fill up the expandable casing, and when the compression member is being compressed, the movable member makes the passage close to restrict the amount of the air being discharged from the expandable casing.
Preferably, the first opening is provided with an outer thread, and the fixed member is provided with an inner thread corresponding to the outer thread.
Preferably, the movable member is a sphere.
Preferably, the first opening is provided with a plurality of protrusions, and the movable member is positioned on the plurality of protrusions of the first opening.
Preferably, the second opening is provided with a plurality of protrusions, and the movable member is positioned on the plurality of protrusions of the second opening.
Preferably, the movable member comprises a movable piece having a plurality of through-holes, the diameter of the movable piece being larger than the diameter of the second opening and smaller than the diameter of the first opening.
According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a trash can equipped with a damper device is provided, which includes a lid, a container body, a stand, a step unit and a hinge portion, wherein the step unit includes a foot pedal and a linkage mechanism having one end connected to the foot pedal and the other end connected to the lid, the lid fits over the container body, the container body fits over the stand and has a liner inside, and the hinge portion is connected to the container body and pivotally connected to the lid. The trash can further includes a damper device confined to a position on the stand by a confining member, and the linkage mechanism of the trash can secures a contact member to make it positioned on the damper device. The damper device comprises: a compression member having a first opening and an expandable casing; a fixed member having a second opening corresponding to the first opening, wherein the fixed member is connected to the compression member, and the second opening and the first opening together form a passage; and a movable member positioned at the passage formed by the first opening and the second opening. When the foot pedal is stepped on so that the compression member is being released, the movable member makes the passage open for air to enter and fill up in the expandable casing, and when the foot pedal is released so that the compression member is being compressed, the movable member makes the passage close to restrict the amount of the air being discharged from the expandable casing. As a result, the air in the compression member will discharge slowly, thereby allowing the lid to slowly move downward and then close on the container body of the trash can.
Preferably, the first opening is provided with an outer thread, and the fixed member is provided with an inner thread corresponding to the outer thread.
Preferably, the movable member is a sphere.
Preferably, the first opening is provided with a plurality of protrusions, and the movable member is positioned on the plurality of protrusions of the first opening.
Preferably, the second opening is provided with a plurality of protrusions, and the movable member is positioned on the plurality of protrusions of the second opening.
Preferably, the movable member comprises a movable piece having a plurality of through-holes, the diameter of the movable piece being larger than the diameter of the second opening and smaller than the diameter of the first opening.
The present disclosure now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which preferred embodiments of the present disclosure are shown. It is to be understood that all kinds of alterations and changes can be made by those skilled in the art without deviating from the spirit and the scope of the present disclosure. This description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the present disclosure.
The first opening 2 of the compression member 1 is provided with an outer thread 7, and the fixed member 4 is provided with an inner thread 8 corresponding to the outer thread 7. The fixed member 4 is connected to the compression member 1 by means of the engagement between the outer thread 7 and the inner thread 8. The movable member 6 comprises a movable piece 9, wherein the diameter of the movable piece 9 is larger than that of the second opening 5 and smaller than that of the first opening 2. The movable piece 9 has a plurality of through-holes 91.
When a force F (as shown by the arrow in
When a force F (as shown by the arrow in
When a force F (as shown by the arrow in
When a user steps on the foot pedal 36 and causes the vertical linkage portion of the linkage mechanism 37 to start moving upward, the lid 32 opens and the compression member 1 is being released. The movable member 6 then makes the passage open for air to enter the expandable casing 3 via the passage. At the same time, the expandable casing 3 expands due to its own elastic recovery force. The expansion leads to a negative pressure state within the expandable casing 3, thereby allowing air outside the device to enter the expandable casing 3 via the passage. Consequently, the expandable casing 3 soon recovers the released state.
When the user release the foot pedal 36 and causes the vertical linkage portion of the linkage mechanism 37 to start moving downward, the compression member 1 is being evenly compressed by the contact member 40 in a downward direction. The movable member 6 then makes the passage close to compress the air within the expandable casing 3. Since the movable piece 9 has a plurality of through-holes 91 that can restrict the amount of the air being discharged, the compressed air within the expandable casing 3 is being slowly discharged via the through-holes 91 of the movable piece 9, and thus, at the same time, the vertical linkage portion of the linkage mechanism 37 is moving downward slowly. As a result, the lid 32 will be closing slowly on the container body 33 before the lid 32 comes to a completely closed position.
Although a damper device 10 of the first embodiment is applied to the trash can 31 described above, a damper device 11 of the second embodiment or a damper device 21 of the third embodiment may also be applied to the same trash can.
While this present disclosure has been described by way of examples and in terms of preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the present disclosure is not limited hereto, and that various changes and modifications can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. It is intended that the scope of the present disclosure be defined by the claims appended hereto.
Claims
1. A damper device, comprising:
- a compression member having a first opening and an expandable casing;
- a fixed member having a second opening corresponding to the first opening, the fixed member being connected to the compression member, the second opening and the first opening together forming a passage; and
- a movable member positioned at the passage formed by the first opening and the second opening, wherein when the compression member is being released, the movable member makes the passage open for air to enter and fill up the expandable casing, and when the compression member is being compressed, the movable member makes the passage close to restrict the amount of the air being discharged from the expandable casing.
2. The damper device according to claim 1, wherein the first opening is provided with an outer thread, and the fixed member is provided with an inner thread corresponding to the outer thread.
3. The damper device according to claim 2, wherein the movable member is a sphere.
4. The damper device according to claim 3, wherein the first opening is provided with a plurality of protrusions, and the movable member is positioned on the plurality of protrusions of the first opening.
5. The damper device according to claim 3, wherein the second opening is provided with a plurality of protrusions, and the movable member is positioned on the plurality of protrusions of the second opening.
6. The damper device according to claim 1, wherein the movable member comprises a movable piece having a plurality of through-holes, the diameter of the movable piece being larger than the diameter of the second opening and smaller than the diameter of the first opening.
7. A trash can equipped with a damper device, comprising:
- a stand;
- a container body that fits over the stand and has a liner inside;
- a lid that fits over the container body;
- a step unit including a foot pedal and a linkage mechanism having one end connected to the foot pedal and the other end connected to the lid;
- a hinge portion connected to the container body and pivotally connected to the lid; and
- a damper device confined to a position on the stand by a confining member, the linkage mechanism securing a contact member to make the contact member positioned on the damper device, wherein the damper device comprises: a compression member having a first opening and an expandable casing; a fixed member having a second opening corresponding to the first opening, wherein the fixed member is connected to the compression member, and the second opening and the first opening together form a passage; and a movable member positioned at the passage formed by the first opening and the second opening, wherein when foot pedal is stepped on so that the compression member is being released, the movable member makes the passage open for air to enter and fill up the expandable casing, and when the foot pedal is released so that the compression member is being compressed, the movable member makes the passage close to restrict the amount of the air being discharged from the expandable casing.
8. The trash can equipped with a damper device according to claim 7, wherein the first opening is provided with an outer thread, and the fixed member is provided with an inner thread corresponding to the outer thread.
9. The trash can equipped with a damper device according to claim 8, wherein the movable member is a sphere.
10. The trash can equipped with a damper device according to claim 9, wherein the first opening is provided with a plurality of protrusions, and the movable member is positioned on the plurality of protrusions of the first opening.
11. The trash can equipped with a damper device according to claim 9, wherein the second opening is provided with a plurality of protrusions, and the movable member is positioned on the plurality of protrusions of the second opening.
12. The trash can equipped with a damper device according to claim 7, wherein the movable member comprises a movable piece having a plurality of through-holes, the diameter of the movable piece being larger than the diameter of the second opening and smaller than the diameter of the first opening.
Type: Application
Filed: Feb 4, 2010
Publication Date: Aug 4, 2011
Applicant: Test Rite International Company, Ltd. (Taipei City)
Inventor: Jing Bo Zhong (Taipei City)
Application Number: 12/700,642
International Classification: B65D 43/26 (20060101);