阅读说明：本技术 带卡扣式封盖的垃圾容纳器 (Garbage container with fastener type sealing cover ) 是由 托马斯·M·菲茨杰拉德 戴维·D·麦克拉纳汉 凯利·维奇 于 2021-06-09 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明涉及一种盖子机构,诸如用于垃圾容器的盖子机构,并且更具体地涉及一种仅用一只手即可操作的盖子机构。(The present invention relates to a lid mechanism, such as for a trash receptacle, and more particularly to a lid mechanism that is operable with only one hand.)

1. A trash receptacle comprising:

a. a lower container portion, a lid portion, and a latch;

b. the lid portion having a top surface and a bottom surface;

c. the lower container portion comprises a lower container portion opening, a bottom, a front, a back, a right side, and a left side;

d. the lower container portion opening is at a proximal end of the lower container portion and the bottom is distal from the lower container portion opening;

e. the lower container portion having a lip portion and the lip portion forming the lower container portion opening of the lower container portion;

f. the lower container portion, the right side having a right pin and the right pin being mounted to the lower container portion, the right side being proximate the rear of the lower container portion;

g. the lower container portion, the left side having a left pin and the left pin being mounted to the lower container portion, the left side being proximate the rear of the lower container portion;

h. the lid portion is rotatably mounted to the lower container portion with a right eye plate coupled with the right pin and a left eye plate coupled with the left pin, and the lid bottom is coupled with a lip portion of the lower container portion when the lid is closed;

i. the latch has a first latch portion flexibly mounted to the lid bottom surface and distal to the right and left eye plates;

j. the first latch portion includes a lead-in ramp portion, a snap cage, a snap lip portion, and a snap rib;

k. the latch having a second latch portion mounted to the lower container portion lip and distal to the right and left pins;

the first latching portion is aligned with the second latching portion; and

the first and second latch portions are in interference between the first and second latch portions when the lid is closed.

2. The trash receptacle of claim 1, wherein the lower container portion and the lid portion are made of a material selected from the group consisting of flame retardant plastics and thermoplastic materials.

3. A trash receptacle for use by a person and having a first hand and a second hand, the trash receptacle comprising:

a. a lower container portion, a lid portion, and a latch;

b. the lid portion having a top surface and a bottom surface;

c. the lower container portion comprises a lower container portion opening, a bottom, a front, a back, a right side, and a left side;

d. the lower container portion opening is at a proximal end of the lower container portion and the bottom is distal from the lower container portion opening;

e. the lower container portion having a lip portion and the lip portion forming the lower container portion opening of the lower container portion;

f. the lower container portion, the right side having a right pin and the right pin being mounted to the lower container portion, the right side being proximate the rear of the lower container portion;

g. the lower container portion, the left side having a left pin and the left pin being mounted to the lower container portion, the left side being proximate the rear of the lower container portion;

h. the lid portion rotatably mounted to the lower container portion with a right eye plate coupled with the right pin and with a left eye plate coupled with the left pin, and the lid bottom is adjacent to the lower container portion with a lip portion when the lid is closed;

i. the latch has a first latch portion mounted to the lid bottom surface and distal to the right and left eye plates;

j. the first latch portion includes a lead-in ramp portion, a snap cage, a snap lip portion, and a snap rib;

k. the second latch portion is the lip portion;

the first latching portion is aligned with the second latching portion;

said first latch portion is flexibly mounted to said lid bottom;

n. the first and second latch portions have an interference between the first and second latch portions;

the latch is positioned to: opening by the person applying a force to the first latch portion using the first hand that eliminates the interference between the lip portion and the first latch portion such that the lid portion is rotatably movable about the right and left pins using the first hand; and

p. the person using the second hand removes the bag together with the contents of the receptacle without having to use the first hand.

4. The trash receptacle of claim 3 wherein the lower container portion and the lid portion are made of a material selected from the group consisting of flame retardant plastics and thermoplastic materials.

5. A method of using a trash receptacle, the trash receptacle including a lower container portion, a lid portion, and a latch, and the latch having an interference between a first latch portion and a second latch portion under the action of a person, and the person having a first hand and a second hand, the method comprising:

a. the person placing the first hand on the first latch portion to open the latch by applying a force from the first hand to the first latch portion that eliminates the interference between the first latch portion and the second latch portion such that the lid is rotatably movable by the person using the first hand; and

b. the person's second hand removes the bag together with the contents of the receptacle without having to use the first hand.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to the field of lid mechanisms, such as those used for trash containers (trash containers), and more particularly to lid mechanisms that are operable with only one hand.

Background

Currently, the prior art includes containers (receptacles) and other devices with lids or doors for use in a variety of different environments. For example, in residential and commercial environments, trash receptacles and other devices often have lids or doors for protecting or preventing the contents of the receptacle from escaping. In the context of trash receptacles, some trash receptacles include a lid or door to prevent odors from escaping and to hide the trash from view within the receptacle. In addition, the lid of the trash receptacle helps prevent contaminants from escaping from the receptacle.

The prior art currently shows trash receptacle lids that are primarily designed to fit over features in the lower can portion of the receptacle, which are typically configured as flanges and the entire lid is secured to the flanges. An alternative is to have the lid with a mechanically operated opening means, which also creates a latching means for the lid. However, these solutions are not suitable for one-handed operation by themselves, nor do they provide a means of ensuring that the lid is securely and correctly closed to protect or prevent the contents of the receptacle from escaping.

Accordingly, there is a need in the art for a trash receptacle lid that can be opened and closed with a single hand and that has a single latch that can be operated with a single hand while opening the trash receptacle lid.

Disclosure of Invention

The invention in one form is directed to a trash receptacle lid having a first portion of a latch mechanism molded into the lid and a second portion of a latch molded into a lower receptacle lip portion, and the first and second portions of the latch cause an interference fit of the mating first and second portions of the latch. The latch is opened by overcoming the interference which is overcome by manipulating the first part of the latch mechanism on the waste receptacle lid, which can be done with one hand, thereby leaving the second hand free to remove the bag with the contents of the waste receptacle without having to use the other hand.

Another advantage of the waste receptacle is that the device can be emptied by lifting the plastic liner from the waste receptacle with one hand and the hinged lid with the other hand.

Drawings

A further understanding of the nature and advantages of particular embodiments may be realized by reference to the remaining portions of the specification and the drawings wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to similar parts. When reference is made to an accompanying numeral without specification to an existing sub-label, it is intended to refer to all such multiple similar components.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the trash receptacle of the present invention with the lid closed.

Fig. 2 is a left side view of the trash receptacle of the present invention with the lid closed.

Fig. 3 is a front view of the trash receptacle of the present invention with the lid open.

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the trash receptacle of the present invention with the lid closed.

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the trash receptacle of the present invention with the lid open.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the cover as seen from the bottom side.

Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing the latch, lid and container rim.

FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of the lid from the bottom side; and

fig. 9 shows a cross-sectional view of the latch.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. The exemplifications set out herein illustrate embodiments of the invention, and such exemplifications are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner.

Detailed Description

While various aspects and features of certain embodiments have been summarized above, the following detailed description illustrates several exemplary embodiments in more detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the embodiments. The described embodiments are provided for illustrative purposes and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the described embodiments. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art that other embodiments of the invention can be practiced without some of these specific details. Several embodiments are described herein, and while various features are attributed to different embodiments, it should be understood that features described with respect to one embodiment may be combined with other embodiments as well. However, for the same reason, the single feature or multiple features of any described embodiment should not be considered essential to every embodiment of the present invention, as other embodiments of the present invention may omit these features.

In this application, the use of the singular includes the plural unless specifically stated otherwise, and the use of the terms "and" or "are, unless otherwise stated, equivalent to" and/or ", also referred to as" non-exclusive or ". Furthermore, the use of the term "including" as well as other forms (such as "includes" and "included") is to be considered non-exclusive. Furthermore, unless specifically stated otherwise, terms such as "element" or "component" encompass elements and components comprising one unit as well as elements and components comprising more than one unit.

Finally, the terms "or" and/or "as used herein should be construed as inclusive or meaning any one or any combination. Thus, "A, B or C" or "A, B and/or C" means "any of the following: a; b; c; a and B; a and C; b and C; A. b and C. An exception to this definition will occur only when a combination of elements, functions, steps or acts are inherently mutually exclusive in certain respects.

Since this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, this disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments illustrated and described.

The terms trash receptacle, trash can, and trash can are used interchangeably to refer to a device for storing waste material.

The terms person, person and staff may be used interchangeably to denote the person opening the waste bin.

The terms trash receptacle lid, lid and top are used interchangeably to refer to a lid for a trash receptacle.

The term latch as used in this specification refers to a device that prevents accidental opening of the lid of the trash receptacle or opening by an animal or child.

The prior art does not provide a system that allows a person to open the lid with one hand to facilitate removal of the bag containing the trash with the other hand.

The amount and collection of waste is an increasing problem. This is particularly true in the consumer sector where large amounts of waste are discarded daily. Most consumers have trash receptacles near their homes for collecting trash generated at or around their homes. The contents of the bin may be collected or disposed of periodically, for example by roadside pick-up (curb side pickup). However, when considering placing and removing refuse in and from a refuse receptacle, an easy to use lid with a closure device is obviously required.

The refuse collection device of the present invention provides a receptacle for receiving refuse. The trash receptacle is formed by: a lid hingedly connected to the body of the waste receptacle, and a flexible latch located substantially centrally of the lid, the flexible latch being engageable with a mating latch member of the lower waste receptacle, the latch member being located at the rim of the lower waste receptacle.

The lid and latch system of the trash receptacle includes a trash receptacle having a lower container, a lid hinged to the lower container and having a first portion of a latch mechanism movably coupled with a second portion of a latch molded to a lip portion of the lower container. The first and second portions of the latch present an interference fit (interference fit) with the mating first and second portions of the latch when the latch is in the closed position. The latch is opened by manipulating a first portion of the latch mechanism on the trash receptacle lid to overcome an interference between the first portion of the latch mechanism and a second portion of the latch mechanism. The present invention allows the lid to be opened with one hand, thereby leaving the second hand free to remove the trash and/or bag along with the contents of the trash receptacle without having to use the other hand.

While the present invention has been described in connection with the preferred embodiments illustrated in the drawings and will be described in detail herein, it is not intended to limit the invention to the particular embodiments shown, with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention.

Referring to fig. 1-9, and more particularly to fig. 1, 2, 4, 5 and 9, the trash receptacle 1 of the present invention includes a lower container 5, a lid 15 and a latch 20. The lid 15 has a top surface 100 and a bottom surface 101, and the lower container 5 has a lower container opening 102, a bottom 108, a front 104, a back 107, a right side 105, and a left side 106.

The lower container opening 102 is at the proximal end of the lower container 5 and the bottom 108 is distal to the lower container opening 102. The lower container has a lip/rim 10 and the lip/rim 10 forms a lower container opening 102 of the lower container 5.

The lower container right side 105 has a right pin 35, and the right pin 35 is attached to the lower container right side 105 near the rear of the lower container 5. The pin 35 may be a molded part or a separate part mounted to the lower container 5.

The lower container left side 106 has a left pin 135 mounted to the lower container left side 106 and proximate the rear 107 of the lower container 5. The pin 135 may be a molded part of the lower container 5 or a separate part mounted to the lower container 5.

Cover 15 utilizes a right eye plate (pad) attached to right pin 35_ye)30 and a left eye plate 130 attached to a left pin 135 are rotatably mounted to the lower container 5 such that the lid bottom 101 is adjacent the lower container lip/rim 10. Eye plate 30 and eye plate 130 may be part circular or 360 degree holes. When eye plate 30 and eye plate 130 are formed in a partially circular shape, they are preferably between 270 and 330 degrees.

The latch 20 has a first latch portion 140 mounted to the bottom surface 101 of the cover and which is remote from the right eye plate 30 and the left eye plate 130 of the cover 15. The latch 20 has a second latch portion 141 mounted to the lower container lip/rim 10 and distal to the right and left pins 35, 135. The second latch portion 141 may also be a lip/rim 10 or a reinforced lip/rim 10 that can mate with the first latch portion 140. The first latching portion 140 and said second latching portion 141 are aligned. The first latch portion 140 is flexibly mounted to the bottom surface 101 of the lid 15. The first latch portion 140 may be an integral plastic hinge or other flexible device, such as a hinge, link, or flexible member.

The first and second latching portions 140 and 141 are designed such that the first and second latching portions 140 and 141 are coupled to each other when the cover 15 is closed, so that interference is formed between the first and second latching portions 140 and 141, and the interference between the first and second latching portions 140 and 141 causes the cover 15 to be securely locked to the lower container 5. The latch 20 is opened by applying a force to the first latch portion 140 that moves the first latch portion 140 such that there is no interference between the first and second latch portions 140 and 141, which allows the lid 15 to rotate about the right and left pins 35 and 135. This rotation allows the lid 15 to open and expose the lower container opening 102. A person applying a force to the first latch portion 140 causes the first latch portion 140 to move, thereby releasing the lid 15 from the second latch portion 141, which allows the person to open the trash receptacle 1 with one hand. The preferred action is to move the first latch portion 140 away from the front 104 of the lower container 5. Alternatively, the first latch portion 140 may be configured to move leftward or rightward from the second latch portion 141.

Referring to fig. 3, there is shown a perspective view of the waste receptacle 1 with the lid closed according to the present invention. The latch 20 includes a first latch portion 140 and the second latch portion 141. The waste receptacle 1 comprises a cartridge 5 having a lip portion/rim 10 and a lid 15 having a second latching portion 141. The cover 15 is rotatably mounted to the barrel 5 by means of a trunnion (trunnions) 25 and a trunnion 26, the trunnion 25 including a right eye plate 30 and a right pin 35 as part of the cover 15, and the trunnion 26 including a left eye plate 130 as part of the cover 15 and a left pin 135 as part of the barrel 5. Latch 20, barrel 5 and lid 15 are made of a flame retardant plastic or thermoplastic material, such as polyethylene with various additives to improve the flame retardant properties of polyethylene. However, the first and second latching portions 140, 141 of the latch 20 may be made of any suitable material.

Referring to fig. 4, there is shown a perspective view of the open lid trash receptacle 1 of the present invention. The waste receptacle 1 comprises a can 5 having a lip/rim 10 with a second latching portion 141 and a lid 15 having a first latching portion 140. The lid 15 is rotatably mounted to the barrel 5 by means of a trunnion 25 and a trunnion 26, the trunnion 25 comprising a right eye plate 30 portion of the lid 15 and a right pin 35 portion of the barrel 5, the trunnion 26 comprising a left pin 135 portion of the barrel 5 and a left eye plate 130 portion of the lid 15. The first latching portion 140 of the lid 15 engages with the second latching portion 141. The second latch portion 141 as contemplated by the present invention may be formed in a variety of ways, including but not limited to: a separate piece reinforcing rim 10 of drum 5, rim 10 of drum 5 without reinforcing a separate piece, or a separate part attached to rim 10. The present invention contemplates that the second latch portion 141 is a reinforcement of the lip/rim 10 or the lip/rim 10 without reinforcement.

Referring to fig. 5, there is shown a front view of the open lid trash receptacle 1 of the present invention. The first latch portion 140 of the latch 20 is shown on the underside and proximal edge of the cover 15 and approximately midway between the left and right sides of the cover 15.

Referring to fig. 6, a cross-sectional view of the waste receptacle 1 with the lid closed of the present invention is shown. The first latch portion 140 of the latch 20 is shown on the bottom surface 101 of the lid 15 at the proximal edge of the lid 15, and the first latch portion 140 of the latch 20 is shown as being retained by the rim 10 (second latch portion 141) of the barrel 5 (as shown in fig. 7).

Figure 7 shows a cross-sectional view of the open lid waste receptacle 1 of the present invention. The first latch portion 140 of the latch 20 is shown on the underside and proximal edge of the lid 15, and the lid 15 is shown in the raised position.

Referring to fig. 8, a perspective view of the lid from the underside is shown, showing the first latch portion 140 of the latch 20.

Referring to fig. 9, a cross-sectional view of the cartridge 5, the first latching portion 140 of the latch 20, the second latching portion 141 of the latch 20, the lid 15 and the cartridge rim 10 is shown. The first latch portion 140 of the latch 20 is formed as part of the lid 15 during the molding process, and the first latch portion 140 includes the lead-in ramp 22, the snap cage 23, the snap lip 24, and the snap rib 21. Alternatively, the second catch portion 141 may be a lip/rim with reinforcement 10 or a lip/rim without reinforcement 10.

The latch 20, the first latching portion 140, secures the lid 15 to the rim 10, the second latching portion 141, by the following process. The lead-in ramp 22 of the latch 20 facilitates displacement of the can lip/rim 10 (second latch portion 141) during closing of the lid 15 by rotatably deforming the can lip/rim 10 when the lid 15 is closed. Alternatively, the snap hood 23 is rotatably deformed by the operator lifting on the snap lip 24, which releases the first latch portion 140 of the latch 20 from the second latch portion 141 of the barrel lip 10, so that the operator can open the latch 20 with one hand. The rotation may be from left to right or it may rotate away from the front 104 of the drum 5. The first latching portion 140 and said second latching portion 141 are aligned.

The process of using trash receptacle 1 comprising can 5, lid 15 and latch 20 by a person and a person having a first hand and a second hand. The lid 15 is rotatably mounted to the barrel 5 and the latch 20 has a first latch portion 140 and said second latch portion 141. The first latch portion 140 and said second latch portion 141 are aligned such that when the first latch portion is coupled with said second latch, there is interference and the person places their first hand on the first latch portion 140 of the latch to open the latch by applying a force from the first hand to the first latch portion 140 that eliminates the interference, such that the lid 15 can be rotatably moved by the person using only their first hand. The person's second hand is then free to remove the bag with the contents of the trash receptacle without using their first hand.

Since many modifications, variations and changes in detail can be made to the described embodiments of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the foregoing description and shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. Furthermore, it should be understood that any feature presented in an embodiment may be integrated into any other embodiment, unless explicitly stated otherwise. The scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents.

Further, the present invention has been described with reference to the embodiments, and it is to be noted and understood that various modifications and alterations can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. Accordingly, the foregoing disclosure is to be construed in an illustrative, and not a restrictive, sense. Furthermore, it is intended: any other embodiments of the invention resulting from any variations in the methods of use or application or method of operation, method of manufacture, shape, size, or material (which variations are not specified in the detailed written description or drawings contained herein) are considered to be within the scope of the invention.

To the extent that the above description and drawings disclose any additional subject matter not within the scope of the appended claims, the present invention is not intended to be dedicated to the public and the right to submit one or more applications to claim such additional invention is reserved.

Although the claims set forth herein are very narrow, it should be recognized that the scope of the present invention is much broader than that set forth in the claims. The intention is: the broader claims are filed in the application claiming priority from that application.

While this invention has been described in terms of at least one embodiment, the present invention can be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims.