Trash Can With Power Operated Lid

• US 20090194532A1
• Filed: 02/01/2008
• Published: 08/06/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Simplehuman LLC
• Original Assignee: Simplehuman LLC
• Inventors: Yang, Frank, Wei, Tzu-Hao, Lum, Myk Wayne, Kim, Yoon J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,569,980 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 220/211
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 1/1638 Electromechanically operated lids

Abstract

A trash can include a sensor for detecting the presence of an object near a portion of the trash can. The detection of the object can be used to signal the trash can to open its lid. The trash can include an electronic drive unit for opening and closing the lid.

Claims

1. An enclosed receptacle comprising:

a receptacle portion defining a reservoir;

a door mounted relative to the receptacle and configured to move between opened and closed positions;

a power supply;

a motor and gear assembly configured to move the door between the opened and closed positions, at least a portion of the motor and gear assembly configured to be releasably coupled to the door;

a controller configured to control operation of the door, the controller comprising;

at least one door movement trigger module configured to allow a user to issue a command to the controller to open the door;

a light read module configured to read and stores calibrated values corresponding to ambient light;

a power supply sense module configured to sense a power supply voltage and create a scaled motor drive value;

a door position monitor having a pre-sensor, top sensor, and home sensor configured to monitor positions of the motor and gear assembly and door;

a braking module configured to slow the movement of the door after the door has reached one of the at least one sensors; and

at least one fault detection module configured to stop operation of the motor and to provide an indication of a fault if the motor has been operating for more than a predetermined time period.

2. An enclosed receptacle comprising:

a receptacle portion defining a reservoir;

a door mounted relative to the receptacle and configured to move between opened and closed positions;

a power supply; and

a motor and gear assembly configured to move the door between the opened and closed positions, at least a portion of the motor and gear assembly configured to be releasably coupled to the door.

3. The receptacle according to claim 2, wherein the motor and gear assembly includes a worm gear.

4. The receptacle according to claim 2, wherein the motor and gear assembly is separately hinged from the door.

5. The receptacle according to claim 2, wherein a magnet is located on both the door and a portion the motor and gear assembly, the magnets configured to releasably hold the door to at least a portion of the motor and gear assembly.

6. The receptacle according to claim 5, wherein the magnets are configured to release from one another if the door is restrained from moving toward a fully closed position.

7. An enclosed receptacle comprising:

a receptacle portion defining a reservoir;

a door mounted relative to the receptacle and configured to move between opened and closed positions;

a power supply;

a motor and gear assembly configured to move the door between the opened and closed positions;

a controller configured to control operation of the door, the controller comprising at least one door movement trigger module configured to allow a user to issue a command to the controller to open the door; and

wherein at least one of the door movement trigger modules comprises a light emitter device and a light receiver device, the door movement trigger module being triggered when the light receiver device detects a given frequency of reflected light for a specified period of time.

8. The receptacle according to claim 7, wherein the light emitted is infrared light.

9. An enclosed receptacle comprising:

a receptacle portion defining a reservoir;

a door mounted relative to the receptacle and configured to move between opened and closed positions;

a power supply;

a motor and gear assembly configured to move the door between the opened and closed positions; and

a controller configured to control operation of the door, the controller comprising a light read module configured to read and store calibrated values corresponding to ambient light.

10. The receptacle according to claim 9, further comprising a power supply sense module configured to sense a power supply voltage and create a scaled motor drive value, wherein the light read module calibrates and stores ambient light values prior to the power supply sense module sensing a power supply voltage.

11. The receptacle according to claim 9, wherein the controller is configured to use the stored calibrated values to prevent false triggering of a door movement trigger module.

12. An enclosed receptacle comprising:

a receptacle portion defining a reservoir;

a door mounted relative to the receptacle and configured to move between opened and closed positions;

a power supply;

a motor and gear assembly configured to move the door between the opened and closed positions; and

a controller configured to control operation of the door, the controller comprising a power supply sense module configured to sense a power supply voltage and create a scaled motor drive value.

13. The receptacle according to claim 12, wherein the controller is further configured to start the motor and set a motion timer;

14. The receptacle according to claim 12, wherein the power supply module is configured first to place a load on the power supply, and then to sense a power supply voltage.

15. An enclosed receptacle comprising:

a receptacle portion defining a reservoir;

a door mounted relative to the receptacle and configured to move between opened and closed positions;

a power supply;

a motor and gear assembly configured to move the door between the opened and closed positions;

a controller configured to control operation of the door, the controller comprising;

a door position monitor having a pre-sensor configured to detect when at least a portion of the motor and gear assembly has reached a predetermined position prior to a fully opened position;

a braking module configured to slow the movement of the door after the door has reached the pre-sensor; and

a fault detection module configured to stop operation of the motor and to provide an indication of a fault if the motor has been operating for more than a predetermined time period.

16. The receptacle of claim 15, wherein the controller further comprises a motion timer, the motion timer configured to detect the predetermined period of time.

17. An enclosed receptacle comprising:

a receptacle portion defining a reservoir;

a door mounted relative to the receptacle and configured to move between opened and closed positions;

a power supply;

a motor and gear assembly configured to move the door between the opened and closed positions;

a controller configured to control operation of the door, the controller comprising;

a door position monitor having a top sensor configured to detect the position of the door when the door reaches a fully opened position;

a fault detection module configured to stop operation of the motor and to provide an indication of a fault if the motor has been operating for more than a predetermined time period;

wherein the controller is configured to stop the motor for a predetermined period of time when the door is at a fully opened position; and

wherein the controller is configured to begin downward movement of the door.

18. The receptacle of claim 17, wherein the controller further comprises a motion timer, the motion timer configured to detect the predetermined period of time.

19. An enclosed receptacle comprising:

a receptacle portion defining a reservoir;

a door mounted relative to the receptacle and configured to move between opened and closed positions;

a power supply;

a motor and gear assembly configured to move the door between the opened and closed positions;

a controller configured to control operation of the door, the controller comprising;

at least one door movement trigger module configured to allow a user to issue a command to the controller to open the door when the door is moving towards a fully closed position.

a door position monitor having a home sensor configured to detect when at least a portion of the motor and gear assembly reaches a fully closed position; and

a fault detection module configured to stop operation of the motor and to provide an indication of a fault if the motor has been operating for more than a predetermined time period; and

wherein the at least one door movement trigger module is configured to activate a reduced motor speed and cause the door to move toward a fully open position.

20. The receptacle of claim 19, wherein the door movement trigger module comprises a light emitter device and a light receiver device, the door movement trigger module being triggered when the light receiver device detects a given frequency of reflected light for a specified period of time.

21. The receptacle of claim 19, wherein the controller is configured to stop the motor and reset when the home sensor is activated.

22. The receptacle of claim 19, wherein the fault detection module is configured to stop the operation of the motor if the home sensor has not detected that at least a portion of the motor and gear assembly has reached a fully closed position before a predetermined period of time has elapsed.

23. The receptacle of claim 19, wherein the controller further comprises a motion timer, the motion timer configured to detect the predetermined period of time.