Trash can with power operated lid

• US 8,569,980 B2
• Filed: 02/01/2008
• Issued: 10/29/2013
• 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.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chan, Kawing
• Application Number:
  US12/024,946
• Publication Number:
  US 20090194532A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,097 Days
• Field of Search: 318/255, 318/256, 318/264, 318/265, 318/266, 318/466, 318/468, 220/200, 220/211, 220/260, 220/262, 220/263
• US Class Current: 318/266
• 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 drive mechanism or 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 door position monitor having a pre-sensor configured to detect when the door has reached a predetermined position prior to the opened position, a top sensor configured to detect when the door has reached the opened position, and a home sensor configured to detect when the door has reached the closed position; and

a braking module configured to slow an upward movement of the door after the door has reached the pre-sensor, the drive mechanism or motor and gear assembly configured to create a transitional movement of the door from a first speed between the home sensor and pre-sensor to a second, slower speed between the pre-sensor and the top sensor during the upward movement of the door,

wherein a first magnet is located on the door and a second magnet is located on a portion of the drive mechanism or motor and gear assembly, the magnets configured to releasably hold the door to at least a portion of the drive mechanism or motor and gear assembly.

2. The receptacle according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the drive mechanism or motor and gear assembly is configured to be releasably coupled to the door.

3. The receptacle according to claim 1, wherein the drive mechanism or motor and gear assembly is separately hinged from the door.

4. The receptacle according to claim 1, wherein the magnets are configured to release from one another if the door is restrained from moving toward the closed position.

5. The receptacle according to claim 1 wherein the controller comprises at least one door movement trigger module configured to allow a user to issue a command to the controller to open the door, the at least one door movement trigger module comprising 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.

6. The receptacle according to claim 5, wherein the light emitted is infrared light.

7. The receptacle according to claim 1, wherein the controller comprises a light read module configured to read and store calibrated values corresponding to ambient light.

8. The receptacle according to claim 7, wherein the light read module calibrates and stores ambient light values prior to a power supply sense module sensing a power supply voltage.

9. The receptacle according to claim 1, wherein the controller comprises a power supply sense module configured to sense a power supply voltage and create a scaled motor drive value.

10. The receptacle according to claim 9, wherein the controller is further configured to start the motor and set a motion timer.

11. The receptacle according to claim 9, wherein the power supply module is configured first to place a load on the power supply, and then to sense a power supply voltage.

12. The receptacle according to claim 1, wherein the controller comprises:

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 while the door is moving between the home sensor and pre-sensor or between the pre-sensor and top sensor.

13. The receptacle of claim 12, wherein the controller further comprises a motion timer, the motion timer configured to detect the predetermined time period.

14. The receptacle of claim 1 wherein the controller is configured to stop the motor for a predetermined period of time when the door is at the opened position;

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

15. The receptacle of claim 1, wherein the controller comprises 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 the closed position.

16. The receptacle of claim 15, wherein the controller is configured to stop the motor and reset when the home sensor is activated.