U.S. patent application number 10/910100 was filed with the patent office on 2006-02-09 for damping lid for use with trash can assembly.
Invention is credited to Joseph Sandor, Frank Yang.
Application Number | 20060027579 10/910100 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35756420 |
Filed Date | 2006-02-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060027579 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Yang; Frank ; et
al. |
February 9, 2006 |
Damping lid for use with trash can assembly
Abstract
A trash can assembly has a body, a metal lid coupled to the top
end of the body, and a non-metal lid liner having a top plate that
has a periphery, and a lid liner skirt extending from the
periphery. The lid liner is secured to the interior of the lid to
dampen the closing motion of the lid, and to prevent rust to the
lid.
Inventors: |
Yang; Frank; (Rancho Palos
Verdes, CA) ; Sandor; Joseph; (Santa Ana Heights,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Raymond Sun
12420 Woodhall Way
Tustin
CA
92782
US
|
Family ID: |
35756420 |
Appl. No.: |
10/910100 |
Filed: |
August 3, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
220/212 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65F 1/16 20130101; B65F
2001/1661 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/212 |
International
Class: |
B65D 51/26 20060101
B65D051/26 |
Claims
1. A trash can assembly, comprising: a body having a top end; a
metal lid coupled to the top end of the body, the lid having an
interior; and a non-metal lid liner having a top plate that has a
periphery, and a lid liner skirt extending from the periphery, the
lid liner being secured to the interior of the lid.
2. The assembly of claim 1, further including means for securing
the lid liner to the interior of the lid.
3. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the lid liner includes a
plurality of fins provided on the external surface of the lid liner
skirt.
4. The assembly of claim 3, wherein the lid includes lid skirt, and
a ridge provided on the lid skirt for engaging the fins.
5. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the top plate is convex.
6. The assembly of claim 5, wherein a portion of the top plate is
in constant contact with the lid when the lid liner is secured to
the lid.
7. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the lid includes a lid skirt,
and wherein a space is defined between the lid skirt and the lid
liner skirt when the lid liner is secured to the lid.
8. A method of dampening the closing motion of a metal lid of a
trash can, comprising: securing a non-metal lid liner inside a
metal lid of a trash can.
9. The method of claim 8, further including: providing a non-metal
lid liner having a top plate that has a periphery, and a lid liner
skirt extending from the periphery.
10. The method of claim 9, further including: causing a convex top
portion of the top plate to be in constant contact with the lid
when the lid liner is secured to the lid.
11. The method of claim 9, wherein the lid includes a lid skirt,
and further including: defining a space is between the lid skirt
and the lid liner skirt when the lid liner is secured to the lid.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a trash can assembly, and
in particular, to a lid for a trash can assembly that includes a
mechanism for damping or softening the closing of the lid.
[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0004] A major concern for both the home and the workplace is
containing and holding wastes, refuse, and trash until permanent
disposal. Trash cans act as containers for holding trash and other
wastes that are produced in any typical home or office. Trash and
garbage cans often employ lids and covers to contain the trash and
its associated odor, to hide the trash from view, and to prevent
the trash from contaminating areas beyond the lid.
[0005] Conventional trash cans have been improved over the years to
make them more user-friendly, sanitary, and hygienic. For example,
many trash cans are now provided with a foot pedal positioned
adjacent the base of the trash can so that a user can step on the
foot pedal to open the lid of the trash can, thereby freeing up the
user's hands to toss trash, or to change the plastic liner or bag
that is used to line the trash can.
[0006] Despite these improvements, there are still drawbacks
associated with the lid. First, metal trash cans that have metal
lids often experience a loud banging sound when the lid slams shut
against the top of the trash can during the closing motion of the
lid. This banging may also accelerate the wear and tear of the lid
after extended use. Second, the interior surfaces of the metal lids
often experience rust because the interior of the closed trash can
is often damp and has a high degree of humidity resulting from the
trash contents contained therein.
[0007] Thus, there remains a need for a trash can assembly that
overcomes the drawbacks outlined above.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0008] It is an object of the present invention to provide a trash
can assembly that minimizes the banging experienced by the closing
motion of the lid.
[0009] It is another object of the present invention to provide a
trash can assembly that minimizes rust in the interior surfaces of
the lid.
[0010] In order to accomplish the objects of the present invention,
there is provided a trash can assembly that has a body, a metal lid
coupled to the top end of the body, and a non-metal lid liner
having a top plate that has a periphery, and a lid liner skirt
extending from the periphery. The lid liner is secured to the
interior of the lid to dampen the closing motion of the lid, and to
prevent rust to the lid.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a lid liner
according to one embodiment of the present invention shown in use
with a trash can lid.
[0012] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the lid liner of FIG. 1
shown installed in the trash can lid.
[0013] FIG. 3 is an isolated perspective view of the lid liner of
FIG. 1.
[0014] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the lid liner of FIG.
1.
[0015] FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of the region labeled A
in FIG. 4.
[0016] FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of a lid liner
according to another embodiment of the present invention shown in
use with a trash can lid.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0017] The following detailed description is of the best presently
contemplated modes of carrying out the invention. This description
is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the
purpose of illustrating general principles of embodiments of the
invention. The scope of the invention is best defined by the
appended claims. In certain instances, detailed descriptions of
well-known devices and mechanisms are omitted so as to not obscure
the description of the present invention with unnecessary
detail.
[0018] FIGS. 1-5 illustrate one embodiment of a lid liner 10
according to the present invention. The lid liner 10 is intended
for use with a metal lid 12 that is hingedly connected to a
conventional trash can 14. The lid 12 and the trash can 14 are
shown in phantom because they can be embodied in the form of any
conventional trash can and metal lid. One non-limiting example of a
trash can and lid is described in U.S. Publication No.
US-2002-0079315-A1, published on Jun. 27, 2002 and entitled "Trash
Can Assembly With Toe-Kick Recess", whose entire disclosure is
incorporated by this reference as though set forth fully herein. A
foot pedal assembly (not shown) can be pivotably secured to the
base of the trash can 14, and a link assembly (not shown) can
extend from the foot pedal to the lid. The link assembly operates
to translate an up-down pivot motion of the pedal assembly to an
up-down pivot motion for the lid.
[0019] The lid liner 10 can be provided in any desired shape and
size to fit the shape and size of the lid 12. FIG. 2 shows the lid
liner 10 secured in place in the interior of the lid 12. In one
embodiment, the lid liner 10 is made of a non-metal material, such
as plastic. This material is preferably flexible, easy to clean,
sanitary, and capable of dampening sounds.
[0020] Referring more specifically to FIGS. 3-5, the lid liner 10
has a top plate 20 and an annular or peripheral skirt 22 extending
from the peripheral edge(s) 24 of the top plate 20. The top plate
20 has a slightly convex configuration (see FIG. 4), and fins 26
can be provided in spaced apart manner along the external surface
of the skirt 22. As best shown in FIG. 5, the fins 26 function to
(i) create a space S between the skirt 16 of the lid 12 and the
skirt 22 of the lid liner 10, and (ii) form a clip-in engagement
with the annular ridge 18 that is provided at the bottom of the
skirt 16 of the lid 12. The creation of the space S allows the
region X of the non-metal skirt 22 of the lid liner 10 to contact
the top of the body of the trash can 14 when the lid 12 closes. In
addition, the clip-in engagement secures the lid liner 10 to the
lid 12.
[0021] The convex configuration of the top plate 20 is configured
such that the convex top plate 20 would normally extend to an
elevation that is higher than the top of the lid 12. This ensures
that the top of the lid liner 10 (i.e., the top of the top plate
20) is in constant contact with the top of the lid 12, as shown in
the region Y in FIG. 4. By ensuring that the top of the lid liner
10 is in constant contact with the top of the lid 12, the noise
caused by the closing motion of the metal lid 12 can be further
dampened. In addition, increased contact between the non-metal
skirt 22 and the metal lid 12 minimizes vibration or ringing sounds
of the metal lid 12.
[0022] In use, the lid liner 10 is snapped into place inside the
interior (underside) of the lid 12, as shown in FIG. 2. The ridge
18 at the bottom of the lid skirt 16 retains the lid liner skirt 22
in place inside the lid 12. When the lid 12 is closed against the
top of the trash can 14, the lid skirt 16 and the lid liner skirt
22 are seated on a shoulder 30 adjacent the top of the body of the
trash can 14 (see FIG. 1). Since the trash can 14 and its shoulder
30 are typically made of metal, the contact of the non-metal
material of the lid liner 10 (and its skirt 22) with the metal
shoulder 30 results in less noise and damage. In addition, since
the lid liner 10 is made of a non-metal material, it will not rust
when exposed to the damp contents contained inside the trash can
14.
[0023] The lid liner 10 in FIGS. 1-5 is illustrated as having a
cut-out 28 at a part of the skirt 22. This cut-out 28 is adapted to
receive the hinge mechanism (not shown) of the lid 12 which allow
the lid 12 to be hingedly connected to the trash can 14. FIG. 6
illustrates a modification to the lid liner 10 of FIGS. 1-5, where
the lid liner 10a is identical to the lid liner 10 except that the
hinge mechanism 36 is provided as part of (and possibly in one
piece as) the lid liner 10a. Thus, in the embodiment of FIG. 6, the
lid 12a is hingedly connected to the trash can 14a via the lid
liner 10a.
[0024] The above detailed description is for the best presently
contemplated modes of carrying out the invention. This description
is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the
purpose of illustrating general principles of embodiments of the
invention. The scope of the invention is best defined by the
appended claims. In certain instances, detailed descriptions of
well-known devices, components, mechanisms and methods are omitted
so as to not obscure the description of the present invention with
unnecessary detail.
* * * * *