Trash cans with variable gearing assemblies

• US 8,872,459 B2
• Filed: 03/09/2012
• Issued: 10/28/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Simplehuman LLC
• Original Assignee: Simplehuman LLC
• Inventors: Yang, Frank, Fruhauf, Christopher, Basha, Michael, Wolbert, David, Yen, Kenneth
• Primary Examiner(s): Masih, Karen
• Application Number:
  US13/417,084
• Publication Number:
  US 20130233853A1
• Time in Patent Office: 963 Days
• Field of Search: 318/12, 318/468, 318/16, 318/480, 318/436, 318/267, 318/282, 318/286, 318/466
• US Class Current: 318/468
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 1/02 without removable inserts
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 1/062 having means for storing or dispensing spare bags
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 1/1638 Electromechanically operated lids
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 2250/111 Aluminum
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 2250/112 Steel
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 2250/114 Plastics
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 7/00 Cleaning or disinfecting devices combined with refuse receptacles or refuse vehicles such devices per se A61L, B08B

Abstract

A trash can with a power operated lid can include a lifting mechanism with a motor, a lifting member, and a variable gear. In some embodiments, the motor is operably connected with the variable gear such that the motor can drive the variable gear and/or the lifting member. In certain implementations, the variable gear includes one or more teeth with varying tooth radii. In some variants, the variable gear and a clutch member are engageable and are configured to allow manual operation of the lid.

Claims

1. A refuse receptacle comprising:

an outer shell component;

a lid mounted relative to the outer shell component portion and configured to move between an open position and a closed position;

a power supply;

a motor configured to be powered by the power supply; and

a gear assembly configured to move the lid between the opened and closed positions, the gear assembly comprising a variable gear rotatably engaged with a lifting gear, the variable gear rotatable by the motor and including a first tooth and a second tooth, the first tooth having a first tooth radius and the second tooth having a second tooth radius that is greater than the first tooth radius, the rotation of the variable gear facilitating acceleration in the angular velocity of the lid during the movement of the lid between the opened and closed positions.

2. The receptacle of claim 1, wherein the variable gear comprises a plurality of teeth, each with a tooth radius.

3. The receptacle of claim 2, wherein each tooth has a unique tooth radius.

4. The receptacle of claim 2, wherein the tooth radii generally increase around the circumference of the variable gear.

5. The receptacle of claim 4, wherein the tooth having the longest tooth radius is engaged with the lifting gear when the lid is in the open position.

6. The receptacle of claim 4, wherein the tooth having the shortest tooth radius is engaged with the lifting gear when the lid is in the closed position.

7. The receptacle of claim 1, wherein the lifting gear comprises a rack gear having a first transverse width and a second transverse width, the first transverse width being different than the second transverse width.

8. The receptacle of claim 7, wherein, during movement of the lid between the opened and closed positions, at least one tooth of the variable gear is engaged with at least one tooth of the rack gear, and the sum of the tooth radius and the transverse width of the engaged teeth is generally constant.

9. The receptacle of claim 1, further comprising a coupling mechanism configured to inhibit vibration from the motor from being transmitted to the variable gear.

10. The receptacle of claim 1, further comprising a drive shaft rotated by the motor, the drive shaft comprising a first portion having a generally round cross-section and a second portion having a generally rectangular cross-section.

11. The receptacle of claim 1, further comprising a clutch member configured to engage with the variable gear.

12. The receptacle of claim 11, wherein the variable gear further comprises a first inclined cam surface and the clutch member comprises a corresponding second inclined cam surface configured to nest with the first inclined cam surface.

13. The receptacle of claim 1, wherein the lid is disposed generally parallel with the ground on which the receptacle is located in the closed position, and the lid is disposed generally perpendicular to the ground in the open position.

14. A trash can configured for manual and powered operation, the trash can comprising:

an outer shell component;

a lid mounted relative to the outer shell component and configured to move between an open position and a closed position;

a power supply;

a motor configured to be powered by the power supply;

a lifting mechanism operably connected with the motor and the lid such that powered operation of the motor can drive the lid between the open and closed positions via the lifting mechanism; and

a clutch engaged with the lifting mechanism and configured to transmit torque from the motor to a portion of the lifting mechanism during powered operation of the lid by the motor, the clutch configured to at least partly disengage from the lifting mechanism during manual operation of the lid to allow the portion of the lifting mechanism to rotate relative to the clutch, thereby facilitating manual operation of the lid without damage to the lifting mechanism;

wherein, after manual operation of the lid has ceased, the clutch is automatically reengaged with the lifting mechanism, thereby facilitating subsequent powered operation of the lid.

21. The trash can of claim 14, wherein the lifting mechanism comprises a gear assembly.

15. A trash can configured for manual and powered operation, the trash can comprising:

an outer shell component;

a lid mounted relative to the outer shell component and configured to move between an open position and a closed position;

a power supply;

a motor configured to be powered by the power supply;

a lifting mechanism operably connected with the motor and the lid such that powered operation of the motor can drive the lid between the open and closed positions via the lifting mechanism;

a clutch engaged with the lifting mechanism and configured to transmit torque from the motor to a portion of the lifting mechanism during powered operation of the lid by the motor, the clutch configured to at least partly disengage from the lifting mechanism during manual operation of the lid to allow the portion of the lifting mechanism to rotate relative to the clutch, thereby facilitating manual operation of the lid without damage to the lifting mechanism; and

a biasing member configured to bias the clutch into engagement with the lifting mechanism.

22. The trash can of claim 15, wherein the lifting mechanism comprises a gear assembly.

16. A trash can configured for manual and powered operation, the trash can comprising:

an outer shell component;

a lid mounted relative to the outer shell component and configured to move between an open position and a closed position;

a power supply;

a motor configured to be powered by the power supply;

a torque transmission component operably connected with the motor and the lid such that powered operation of the motor can drive the lid between the open and closed positions via the torque transmission component;

a clutch engaged with the torque transmission component and configured to transmit torque from the motor to a portion of the torque transmission component during powered operation of the lid by the motor, the clutch configured to at least partly disengage from the torque transmission component during manual operation of the lid to allow the portion of the torque transmission component to rotate relative to the clutch, thereby facilitating manual operation of the lid without damage to the torque transmission component; and

a drive shaft, the clutch being configured to translate along a portion of the drive shaft.

23. The trash can of claim 16, wherein the torque transmission component comprises a gear assembly.

17. A trash can configured for manual and powered operation, the trash can comprising:

an outer shell component;

a lid mounted relative to the outer shell component and configured to move between an open position and a closed position;

a power supply;

a motor configured to be powered by the power supply;

a torque transmission component operably connected with the motor and the lid such that powered operation of the motor can drive the lid between the open and closed positions via the torque transmission component; and

a clutch engaged with the torque transmission component and configured to transmit torque from the motor to a portion of the torque transmission component during powered operation of the lid by the motor, the clutch configured to at least partly disengage from the torque transmission component during manual operation of the lid to allow the portion of the torque transmission component to rotate relative to the clutch, thereby facilitating manual operation of the lid without damage to the torque transmission component;

wherein the torque transmission component comprises a first inclined cam surface and the clutch member comprises a corresponding second inclined cam surface configured to nest with the first inclined cam surface.

18. The trash can of claim 17, wherein, during manual operation of the lid, the first and second inclined cam surfaces slide relative to each other.

19. The trash can of claim 18, wherein, during manual operation of the lid, the clutch is urged in a direction generally away from the motor.

20. The trash can of claim 17, wherein the torque transmission component further comprises a gear assembly.