Trash can with clutch mechanism
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A trash can assembly comprising:
- a body component;
a lid mounted relative to the body component and configured to move between open and closed positions, the lid having a lid driving mechanism;
a power operated driving mechanism comprising a motor coupled with a shaft;
a clutch mechanism engageable with the lid driving mechanism, the clutch mechanism configured to receive torque from the motor and to transmit the torque to the lid driving mechanism to move the lid between the open and closed positions; and
a biasing member configured to bias the clutch mechanism into engagement with an end member of the power operated driving mechanism;
wherein the lid driving mechanism and the clutch mechanism are configured to engage, and wherein the clutch mechanism is configured to translate along, and rotate about, the shaft in the assembled trash can assembly.
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Abstract
Various embodiments of a trash can assembly (e.g., a receptacle configured to receive refuse, recyclable materials, or otherwise), and related methods, are provided. Some embodiments of the trash can assembly include a body component and a lid configured to move between an open position and a closed position. In some variants, the lid can be moved between the open and closed positions by a power operated driving mechanism, such as a motor and/or other drivetrain components. In certain embodiments, the trash can assembly includes a clutch mechanism to facilitate manual operation of the lid while inhibiting or preventing damage to the motor and/or other drivetrain components.
398 Citations
35 Claims
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1. A trash can assembly comprising:
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a body component; a lid mounted relative to the body component and configured to move between open and closed positions, the lid having a lid driving mechanism; a power operated driving mechanism comprising a motor coupled with a shaft; a clutch mechanism engageable with the lid driving mechanism, the clutch mechanism configured to receive torque from the motor and to transmit the torque to the lid driving mechanism to move the lid between the open and closed positions; and a biasing member configured to bias the clutch mechanism into engagement with an end member of the power operated driving mechanism; wherein the lid driving mechanism and the clutch mechanism are configured to engage, and wherein the clutch mechanism is configured to translate along, and rotate about, the shaft in the assembled trash can assembly. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A trash can assembly comprising:
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a body component; a lid mounted relative to the body component and configured to move between open and closed positions, the lid having a lid driving mechanism that is attached to a bottom surface of the lid; a power operated driving mechanism comprising a motor coupled with a shaft; and a clutch mechanism engageable with the lid driving mechanism, the clutch mechanism configured to receive torque from the motor via the shaft and to transmit the torque to the lid driving mechanism to move the lid between the open and closed positions, the clutch mechanism being configured to translate along, and rotate about, the shaft in the assembled trash can assembly; wherein the lid driving mechanism and the clutch mechanism are configured to abut and are further configured to allow a user to manually move the lid between the open and closed positions substantially without applying torque to the motor; wherein the trash can assembly is configured such that, when the power operated driving mechanism is operated, the clutch mechanism moves the lid between the open and closed positions. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A trash can assembly comprising:
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a body component; a lid mounted relative to the body component and configured to move between open and closed positions, the lid having a lid driving mechanism; a power operated driving mechanism comprising a motor coupled with a shaft; and a clutch mechanism engageable with the lid driving mechanism, in the assembled trash can assembly the clutch mechanism configured to; rotatably engage with the lid; receive torque from the motor via the shaft and from an end member of the power operated driving mechanism; and transmit the torque to the lid driving mechanism so as to move the lid between the open and closed positions; wherein the lid driving mechanism and the clutch mechanism are configured to allow a user to manually move the lid between the open and closed positions substantially without applying torque to the motor; wherein the clutch mechanism is further configured to move relative to the end member, the movement comprising translating along, and rotating about, the shaft. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35)
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Specification