Trash can

• US 8,720,728 B2
• Filed: 03/10/2008
• Issued: 05/13/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Simplehuman LLC
• Original Assignee: Simplehuman LLC
• Inventors: Yang, Frank, Sandor, Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): ALLEN, JEFFREY R
• Application Number:
  US12/045,641
• Publication Number:
  US 20080237234A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,255 Days
• Field of Search: 220/675, 220/323, 220/262, 220/810, 220/263, 220/324, 220/908, 220/326, 220/260, 220/315, 220/264, 220/827
• US Class Current: 220/324
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 1/1473 Receptacles having wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 1/1615 with means for locking, fastening or permanently closing thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 1/1623 with means for assisting the opening or closing thereof, e.g. springs spring-actuated swinging wings E05F1/10
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 1/163 Pedal-operated lids
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 2001/1661 relating to noise reduction, e.g. during opening or closing
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 2220/12 nestable
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

A trash can with a lid can include a lock for the lid. The lock can include a latch that cooperates with the trash container body to lock the lid over the opening of the body. The latch can be configured to slide with respect to the edge of the opening of the body from an unlocked position to a locked position. This latch can be integrated into, built into or self contained in the lid. The trash can can also include a pedal actuator for opening the lid. The trash can can also include a damping mechanism mounted to the body of the trash can with a mounting plate. The mounting plate can be made from a material that is harder than the material used for the body of the trash can. Additionally, the trash can can have wheels.

Claims

1. A trash container comprising:

a trash can body defining an interior cavity configured to receive trash, the trash can body having an upper opening through which trash can be inserted into the interior cavity;

a lid assembly pivotally attached to the trash can body so as to move between opened and closed positions, the lid assembly comprising;

a lid member sized to cover substantially the entire upper opening of the trash can body, at least a portion of the lid member being spaced from the upper opening when the lid assembly is in the opened position, the lid member covering substantially the entire upper opening when the lid assembly is in the closed position;

a hinge mechanism attached to the lid member and configured to support the entire lid member through pivoted movement of the lid member; and

a latch mechanism supported by the lid member, the latch mechanism comprising a slidable latch member mounted so as to be slidable relative to the lid member, the latch member being slidable from a first, locked position in which the latch member engages the trash can body so as to lock the lid assembly in the closed position and a second, unlocked position in which the latch member does not engage the trash can body and the lid assembly is free to pivot to the opened position, the latch member comprising a portion that has a cross-sectional profile that generally corresponds to a cross-sectional profile of the lid member when the latch member is in the second, unlocked position, such that an edge adjacent the latch member on the lid member is positioned at substantially the same outer extent as that of the latch member when the latch member is in the second, unlocked position, and such that outer surfaces of the latch member and lid member are substantially flush with each other along the lid assembly when the latch member is in the second, unlocked position.

2. The trash container according to claim 1, wherein the latch member is integrated with the lid member.

3. The trash container according to claim 1, wherein the latch member is disposed on a front edge of the lid member.

4. The trash container according to claim 1, wherein the lid assembly is attached to the body with the hinge mechanism, the latch member being disposed on a side of the lid member opposite the hinge mechanism.

5. The trash container according to claim 1, wherein the body is made from a first material, and the latch member is attached to the lid member with a mounting member made from a second material that is stiffer than the first material.

6. The trash container according to claim 5, wherein the first material is impact resistant polypropylene and the second material is Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS).

7. The trash container according to claim 6 additionally comprising a pedal actuator configured to move the lid assembly between opened and closed positions, the pedal actuator including a lever member made from ABS and a dampening device mounted to the body with a mounting plate made from ABS.

8. The trash container according to claim 1, further comprises a ledge comprising an upper portion of the trash can body extending outwardly from the internal cavity.

9. The trash container according to claim 1 additionally comprising a pedal actuator assembly comprising a pedal and being configured to raise the lid assembly when the pedal is depressed, and a fixed member extending beneath the pedal.

10. The trash container according to claim 1 additionally comprising:

an opening mechanism configured to move the lid assembly from the closed to the opened position; and

a dampening device configured to dampen movement of the lid assembly at least from the opened position toward the closed position, the dampening device comprising a housing mounted to a bottom of the trash can body with a mounting member located between the housing and trash can body, the trash can body made from a first material, the mounting member made from a second material that is stiffer than the first material.

11. The trash container according to claim 10, wherein the first material is impact resistant polypropylene and the second material is ABS.

12. The trash container according to claim 10, wherein the mounting member includes an opening, a portion of the opening mechanism extending through the opening.

13. The trash container according to claim 10, wherein the opening mechanism comprises a pedal assembly and a connector extending between the pedal assembly and the lid member.

14. The trash container according to claim 13, wherein the mounting member includes an opening, the connector extending through the opening.

15. The trash container according to claim 10, wherein the trash can body includes a downwardly facing surface, the mounting member being attached to the downwardly facing surface.

16. The trash container according to claim 10, wherein the housing comprises a cylinder member attached to the mounting member and a piston rod attached to the opening mechanism.

17. The trash container according to claim 10, wherein the opening mechanism comprises a pedal actuator assembly comprising at least a pedal configured to raise the lid when the pedal is depressed, and wherein the trash can further comprises a fixed member mounted beneath the pedal.

18. The trash container according to claim 1, wherein the trash container is pedal actuated.

19. The trash container according to claim 1 additionally comprising:

a pedal actuator assembly comprising at least a pedal configured to raise the lid assembly when the pedal is depressed; and

a support member mounted beneath and spaced apart from the pedal, the support member comprising an elongate, cylindrical bar mounted to the lower surface of the trash can body, the elongate cylindrical bar extending away from the trash can body in a generally U-shaped configuration.

20. The trash container of claim 19, wherein the support member is fixed to the lower surface with threaded fasteners extending through apertures in the support member.

21. The trash container of claim 19, wherein the support member is configured to inhibit tipping of the trash can container.

22. The trash container of claim 19, wherein the lower surface comprises a recessed channel in the trash can body, at least a portion of the support member fitted within the recessed channel.

23. The trash container of claim 19 wherein the pedal extends a first distance away from the trash can body and the support member is mounted beneath and spaced apart from the pedal, the support member extending a second distance away from the trash can body, the second distance being less than the first distance.

24. The trash container container of claim 23, wherein the trash can body further comprises a brow portion extending over the pedal actuator assembly.