Trash can with power operated lid

• US 8,686,676 B2
• Filed: 03/04/2011
• Issued: 04/01/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Simplehuman LLC
• Original Assignee: Simplehuman LLC
• Inventors: Yang, Frank, Sandor, Joseph, Cardenas, Orlando
• Primary Examiner(s): GLASS, ERICK DAVID
• Application Number:
  US13/040,786
• Publication Number:
  US 20110220648A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,124 Days
• Field of Search: 318466-468, 318280-286, 220/211, 220260-263, 340/545.3
• US Class Current: 318/466
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 1/1638 Electromechanically operated lids

Abstract

A trash can with a power operated lid can include a sensor assembly and a lifting mechanism. The sensor assembly can include at least one light emitter and at least one light receiver, the viewing area of the at least one light receiver being limited in size. The lifting mechanism can include a controller, a drive motor, and a lifting member. The trash can with power operated lid can further include at least one position sensor for detecting the position of the lid.

Claims

1. An enclosed receptacle comprising:

a receptacle portion defining a reservoir;

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

a power supply;

a flagging member configured to indicate a position of the lid;

an assembly configured to move the lid between the opened and closed positions, the assembly comprising a lifting mechanism comprising;

a drive motor comprising a drive mechanism;

a lifting member configured to be driven by the drive mechanism; and

a plurality of position detectors configured to detect a position of the flagging member;

a controller configured to receive signals from the position detectors to permit the lid to return to a home position, either by the drive mechanism or under manual force, without resetting,

wherein the plurality of position detectors comprise an upper position detector and a lower position detector, and wherein when the lid is in the closed position, the flagging member is configured to trigger the lower position detector or both the lower position detector and upper position detector.

2. The enclosed receptacle of claim 1, further comprising a controller configured to control operation of the lid, the controller comprising at least one lid movement trigger module configured to detect whether a signal has been received a predetermined number of times and to issue a command to the controller to open the lid using the assembly.

3. The enclosed receptacle of claim 2, further comprising at least one light emitter and at least one light receiver mounted on the receptacle, the lid movement trigger module configured to detect whether the at least one light receiver has received a light signal.

4. The enclosed receptacle of claim 3, wherein the light signal is a four-bit signal.

5. The enclosed receptacle of claim 1, wherein the lifting member and/or drive mechanism is configured to permit slippage, such that the lid can be manually closed at any time during operation of the enclosed receptacle.

6. The enclosed receptacle of claim 1, wherein the position detectors are paired optical proximity detectors.

7. The enclosed receptacle of claim 1, wherein when the lifting member is in a fully extended position, corresponding to the lid being in the opened position, the flagging member has traveled through and above the upper position detector and the lower position detector.

8. The enclosed receptacle of claim 1, wherein when the lid is in an intermediate position between the opened position and the closed position, the flagging member is configured to interact and trigger the upper position detector.

9. The enclosed receptacle of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the lifting mechanism is removable from the enclosed receptacle, such that it can be repaired or replaced.

10. The enclosed receptacle of claim 1, wherein the drive motor is configured to permit the lid to be returned to the closed position or the opened position by pushing manually on the lid.

11. The enclosed receptacle of claim 10, wherein the drive motor comprises a clutch configured to slip more easily when forcing the lid in a first direction than forcing the lid in a second direction.

12. The enclosed receptacle of claim 1, wherein the lifting member comprises a fork mechanism on an upper end of the lifting member, the fork mechanism configured to lift two lids.

13. The enclosed receptacle of claim 1, wherein the power supply, the assembly, and the controller are enclosed in a housing.

14. The enclosed receptacle of claim 13, wherein the housing is removable from the receptacle.

15. The enclosed receptacle of claim 13, wherein the housing is positioned on a wall of the receptacle portion.

16. An enclosed receptacle comprising:

a receptacle portion defining a reservoir;

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

a power supply;

a flagging member configured to indicate a position of the lid;

an assembly configured to move the lid between the opened and closed positions, the assembly comprising a lifting mechanism comprising;

a drive motor comprising a drive mechanism;

a lifting member configured to be driven by the drive mechanism; and

a plurality of position detectors configured to detect a position of the flagging member;

a controller configured to receive signals from the position detectors to permit the lid to return to a home position, either by the drive mechanism or under manual force, without resetting,

wherein the drive motor is configured to permit the lid to be returned to the closed position or the opened position by pushing manually on the lid, and wherein the drive motor comprises a clutch configured to slip more easily when forcing the lid in a first direction than forcing the lid in a second direction.

17. The enclosed receptacle of claim 16, further comprising a controller configured to control operation of the lid, the controller comprising at least one lid movement trigger module configured to detect whether a signal has been received a predetermined number of times and to issue a command to the controller to open the lid using the assembly.

18. The enclosed receptacle of claim 17, further comprising at least one light emitter and at least one light receiver mounted on the receptacle, the lid movement trigger module configured to detect whether the at least one light receiver has received a light signal.

19. The enclosed receptacle of claim 18, wherein the receptacle portion comprises a support ring that is substantially flush with the receptacle portion, the lid pivotally mounted to the support ring, and wherein the at least one light emitter and the at least one light receiver are positioned within the support ring.

20. The enclosed receptacle of claim 16, the assembly further comprises a gate member configured to open and close about the lifting member.

21. The enclosed receptacle of claim 16, further comprising at least one opening in the assembly for removal of extraneous debris.

22. The enclosed receptacle of claim 16, wherein the motor includes a gear reduction of at least 5 to 1.

23. The enclosed receptacle of claim 16, wherein the lifting mechanism further comprises a guide roller configured to guide the movement of the lifting member.

24. The enclosed receptacle of claim 16, wherein the lifting member and/or drive mechanism is configured to permit slippage, such that the lid can be manually closed at any time during operation of the enclosed receptacle.

25. The enclosed receptacle of claim 16, wherein the lifting member includes a cylindrical passage at an upper end of the lifting member.

26. The enclosed receptacle of claim 25, wherein the lid includes a pin assembly, the lid configured to be connected to the lifting member with the pin assembly and cylindrical passage.

27. The enclosed receptacle of claim 16, wherein the position detectors are paired optical proximity detectors.

28. The enclosed receptacle of claim 16, wherein the plurality of position detectors comprise an upper position detector and a lower position detector.

29. The enclosed receptacle of claim 28, wherein when the lifting member is in a fully extended position, corresponding to the lid being in the opened position, the flagging member has traveled through and above the upper position detector and the lower position detector.

30. The enclosed receptacle of claim 28, wherein when the lid is in an intermediate position between the opened position and the closed position, the flagging member is configured to interact and trigger the upper position detector.

31. The enclosed receptacle of claim 16, wherein at least a portion of the lifting mechanism is removable from the enclosed receptacle, such that it can be repaired or replaced.

32. The enclosed receptacle of claim 16, wherein the first direction is down towards the closed position and the second direction is up towards the opened position.

33. The enclosed receptacle of claim 16, wherein the lifting member comprises a fork mechanism on an upper end of the lifting member, the fork mechanism configured to lift two lids.

34. The enclosed receptacle of claim 16, wherein the power supply, the assembly, and the controller are enclosed in a housing.

35. The enclosed receptacle of claim 34, wherein the housing is positioned on a wall of the receptacle portion.

36. The enclosed receptacle of claim 34, wherein the housing is removable from the receptacle.

37. An enclosed receptacle comprising:

a receptacle portion defining a reservoir;

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

a power supply;

a flagging member configured to indicate a position of the lid;

an assembly configured to move the lid between the opened and closed positions, the assembly comprising a lifting mechanism comprising;

a drive motor comprising a drive mechanism;

a lifting member configured to be driven by the drive mechanism; and

a plurality of position detectors configured to detect a position of the flagging member;

a controller configured to receive signals from the position detectors to permit the lid to return to a home position, either by the drive mechanism or under manual force, without resetting,

wherein the power supply, the assembly, and the controller are enclosed in a housing, and wherein the housing is removable from the receptacle.

38. The enclosed receptacle of claim 37, wherein the housing is positioned on a wall of the receptacle portion.

39. The enclosed receptacle of claim 37, further comprising a controller configured to control operation of the lid, the controller comprising at least one lid movement trigger module configured to detect whether a signal has been received a predetermined number of times and to issue a command to the controller to open the lid using the assembly.

40. The enclosed receptacle of claim 39, further comprising at least one light emitter and at least one light receiver mounted on the receptacle, the lid movement trigger module configured to detect whether the at least one light receiver has received a light signal.

41. The enclosed receptacle of claim 40, wherein the receptacle portion comprises a support ring that is substantially flush with the receptacle portion, the lid pivotally mounted to the support ring, and wherein the at least one light emitter and the at least one light receiver are positioned within the support ring.

42. The enclosed receptacle of claim 37, wherein the lifting member and/or drive mechanism is configured to permit slippage, such that the lid can be manually closed at any time during operation of the enclosed receptacle.

43. The enclosed receptacle of claim 37, wherein the plurality of position detectors comprise an upper position detector and a lower position detector.

44. The enclosed receptacle of claim 43, wherein when the lifting member is in a fully extended position, corresponding to the lid being in the opened position, the flagging member has traveled through and above the upper position detector and the lower position detector.

45. The enclosed receptacle of claim 43, wherein when the lid is in an intermediate position between the opened position and the closed position, the flagging member is configured to interact and trigger the upper position detector.

46. The enclosed receptacle of claim 37, wherein the drive motor comprises a clutch configured to slip more easily when manually forcing the lid down towards the closed position than manually forcing the lid up towards the opened position.

47. The enclosed receptacle of claim 37, wherein the lifting member comprises a fork mechanism on an upper end of the lifting member, the fork mechanism configured to lift two lids.

48. The receptacle of claim 37, wherein the receptacle comprises an opening and the housing is placed in the opening such that the housing is at least partially placed in the interior of the receptacle.