Trashcan system and related methods of use

• US 10,099,854 B2
• Filed: 09/10/2015
• Issued: 10/16/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Poubelle LLC
• Original Assignee: Poubelle LLC
• Inventors: Howard, James A., Montag, Lori D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Redding, David
• Application Number:
  US15/510,641
• Publication Number:
  US 20170210559A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,132 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 7/0047 Furniture or stationary devices with suction openings built-in suction cleaners A47L5/38
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 1/062 having means for storing or dispensing spare bags
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 1/105 the filling means being pneumatic, e.g. using suction
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 1/1638 Electromechanically operated lids
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 2210/168 Sensing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0635 Processing of requisition or of purchase orders

Abstract

A trashcan system is disclosed herein. In various aspects, the trashcan system includes an inlet located about a trashcan to be proximate to a surface upon which the trashcan is placed in order to entrain materials disposed upon the surface into air communicated into the inlet. The trashcan system, in various aspects, includes a collector disposed within the trashcan. A chamber of the collector may receive air with materials entrained therein communicated from the inlet, and the chamber may be adapted to collect materials entrained in the air. An exit may be located about the trashcan that communicates with the chamber to exhaust the air from the chamber, in various aspects. A vacuum assembly located about the trashcan, the vacuum assembly cooperates with the inlet, the chamber, and the exit to communicate the air into the inlet, through the chamber, to the exit where the air is exhausted.

Claims

1. A trashcan system, comprising:

an inlet located about a trashcan to be proximate to a surface upon which the trashcan is placed in order to entrain materials disposed upon the surface into air communicated into the inlet;

a collector disposed within the trashcan, a chamber of the collector receives air with materials entrained therein communicated from the inlet, the chamber adapted to collect materials entrained in the air;

an exit located about the trashcan, the exit communicating with the chamber to exhaust the air from the chamber;

a filter interposed between the chamber and the exit to remove materials from the air passing between the chamber and the exit; and

a vacuum assembly located about the trashcan, the vacuum assembly in cooperation with the inlet, the chamber, and the exit to communicate the air into the inlet, through the chamber, to the exit, the air being exhausted from the exit,

wherein the vacuum assembly is operable to reverse air flow and thereby communicate the air into the exit and into the chamber.

2. The trashcan system of claim 1, further comprising a sensor that emits a signal indicative of a condition, the sensor in operative communication with the vacuum assembly to cause the vacuum assembly to communicate the air into the inlet upon emission of the signal.

3. The trashcan system of claim 1, further comprising a door positioned about the collector, the door positionable between a closed position and an open position, the door in the open position reveals an aperture, material may be ejected from the chamber through the aperture.

4. The trashcan system of claim 1, further comprising a valve that blocks air flow from the chamber to the inlet when air is communicated from the exit into the chamber by reversal of the vacuum assembly.

5. The trashcan system of claim 4, wherein the air communicated from the exit into the chamber expels materials from the chamber into a trash bag located within the trashcan.

7. The trashcan system of claim 1, the trashcan further comprising:

a lid positionable between a closed position and an open position; and

a sensor in operative communication with the lid to cause the lid to move from the closed position to the open position upon detection of a signal.

10. The trashcan system of claim 1, wherein the trashcan includes a base a sidewall.

11. The trashcan system of claim 1, wherein the trashcan is rectangular.

12. The trashcan system of claim 1, wherein the trashcan includes a power supply.

13. The trashcan system of claim 1, wherein the power supply includes an electric motor.

14. The trashcan system of claim 1, wherein the vacuum assembly communicates the air via one or more tubes.

15. The trashcan system of claim 5, wherein the trash bag is held in place via clips to hold the trash bag in an open position within the chamber for the reception of trash.

6. A trashcan system, comprising:

an inlet located about a trashcan to be proximate to a surface upon which the trashcan is placed in order to entrain materials disposed upon the surface into air communicated into the inlet;

a collector disposed within the trashcan, a chamber of the collector receives air with materials entrained therein communicated from the inlet, the chamber adapted to collect materials entrained in the air;

an exit located about the trashcan, the exit communicating with the chamber to exhaust the air from the chamber;

a filter interposed between the chamber and the exit to remove materials from the air passing between the chamber and the exit; and

a vacuum assembly located about the trashcan, the vacuum assembly in cooperation with the inlet, the chamber, and the exit to communicate the air into the inlet, through the chamber, to the exit, the air being exhausted from the exit,

wherein the collector having a plunger operable to expel materials from the chamber into a trash bag located within the trashcan.

8. A trashcan system, comprising:

an inlet located about a trashcan to be proximate to a surface upon which the trashcan is placed in order to entrain materials disposed upon the surface into air communicated into the inlet;

a collector disposed within the trashcan, a chamber of the collector receives air with materials entrained therein communicated from the inlet, the chamber adapted to collect materials entrained in the air;

an exit located about the trashcan, the exit communicating with the chamber to exhaust the air from the chamber;

a filter interposed between the chamber and the exit to remove materials from the air passing between the chamber and the exit;

a vacuum assembly located about the trashcan, the vacuum assembly in cooperation with the inlet, the chamber, and the exit to communicate the air into the inlet, through the chamber, to the exit, the air being exhausted from the exit;

an App operatively received by a handheld electronic device to display a status of the trashcan to a user;

one or more sensors disposed about the trashcan to detect a signal indicative of a status of the trashcan; and

a controller disposed about the trashcan, the controller in communication with the one or more sensors to determine the status of the trashcan using the signal, the controller in wireless communication with the App to communicate wirelessly the status to the App,

wherein the status comprises a quantity of trash bags within a container portion of the trashcan.

9. The trashcan system of claim 8, further comprising a vendor in communication with the App to provide trash bags to the user when prompted by a request communicated to the vendor by the App.

16. The trashcan system of claim 8, wherein the one or more sensors detect the presence or quantity of trash bags within the chamber.