U.S. patent application number 12/479050 was filed with the patent office on 2009-12-24 for container with pedal operated lid.
Invention is credited to James Lee.
Application Number | 20090314779 12/479050 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 41430174 |
Filed Date | 2009-12-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090314779 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lee; James |
December 24, 2009 |
CONTAINER WITH PEDAL OPERATED LID
Abstract
A container has one or more foot pedals for opening respective
one or more lids of the container. The foot pedals extend outwardly
from a foot pedal portion of on the outer periphery of the
container body. The foot pedal portion can be metal and flush with
the outer periphery of the container body.
Inventors: |
Lee; James; (Old Tappan,
NJ) |
Correspondence
Address: |
FROMMER LAWRENCE & HAUG LLP
745 FIFTH AVENUE
NEW YORK
NY
10151
US
|
Family ID: |
41430174 |
Appl. No.: |
12/479050 |
Filed: |
June 5, 2009 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61131580 |
Jun 10, 2008 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
220/263 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65F 2210/1125 20130101;
B65F 1/163 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/263 |
International
Class: |
B65D 43/26 20060101
B65D043/26 |
Claims
1. A container assembly, comprising: a container body with a top
end and a bottom end, the container body having an enclosing wall
that defines a periphery, the enclosing wall having one or more
foot pedal holes adjacent the bottom end; one or more foot pedal
portions, separate from the container body, is fitted into a
respective opening adjacent the bottom end of the container body,
the foot pedal portion substantially flush with the periphery of
the container body; one or more foot pedals at least partially
positioned in a respective foot pedal portion; one or more lids
hingedly attached to the top end of the container body; and a lid
actuator coupling a foot pedal to a respective lid.
2. The container assembly of claim 1, comprising an identifier trim
associated with each foot pedal portion, identifier trim
distinguishing one foot pedal portion from another.
3. The container assembly of claim 2, wherein each identifier trim
is a different color than every other identifier trim.
4. The container assembly of claim 3, further comprising pedal end
caps coupled to each foot pedal, said end caps having the same
color as the respective identifier trim.
5. The container assembly of claim 2, wherein each identifier trim
has a different surface finish than every other identifier
trim.
6. The container assembly of claim 1, wherein the foot pedal
portion has a surface contour that is different from a surface
contour of the container body.
7. The container assembly of claim 1, wherein the foot pedal pivots
about a pivot point, with the pivot point positioned inside the
periphery of the container body.
8. The container assembly of claim 7, further including a base,
with each foot pedal pivotally secured to the base, wherein
pivoting of the foot pedal causes the respective lid actuator to
move the respective lid.
Description
[0001] This application claims priority to Provisional Patent
Application Ser. No. 61/131,580, filed Jun. 10, 2008, and is
related to design patent application Ser. No. 29/298,761 of Lee,
filed Dec. 12, 2007 both disclosures of which are incorporated by
reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Technical Field
[0003] This invention relates to a trash container. More
particularly, this invention relates to a trash container
specifically designed for the collection of recyclable trash such
as, for example, cans, and/or bottles, etc. Specifically, this
invention relates to such a container which is of a size to fit
conveniently under the sink or in like cabinets and yet efficiently
hold the maximum amount of recyclable materials.
[0004] 2. Description of Related Art
[0005] In view of the ecological emphasis on the recycling of trash
materials, the need for separate containers to hold the same in a
sorted environment has become prevalent. In an attempt to satisfy
this need, manufacturers have developed recycle container systems,
that is, a plurality of containers that may stack with each other
or that may be carried on a cart or the like, are provided so the
user may separate items such as glass, cans, recyclable paper, and
non-recyclable items. Oftentimes these containers are color-coded
to identify the type of trash they are to receive.
[0006] 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. Other trash cans have even
provided an interior metal or plastic liner that fits inside the
trash can, and which can be removed to be washed.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0007] An aspect of the present disclosure includes a container
body with a top end and a bottom end, the container body having an
enclosing wall that defines a periphery, the enclosing wall having
one or more foot pedal holes adjacent the bottom end. One or more
foot pedal portions, separate from the container body, is fitted
into a respective opening adjacent the bottom end of the container
body, the foot pedal portion is substantially flush with the
periphery of the container body. One or more foot pedals are at
least partially positioned in a respective foot pedal portion. One
or more lids are hingedly attached to the top end of the container
body and a lid actuator couples a foot pedal to a respective
lid.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 illustrates a container with a foot pedal operated
lid according to the present disclosure;
[0009] FIG. 2 illustrates a foot pedal area of a portion of the
container body of the container of FIG. 1;
[0010] FIG. 3 illustrates the foot pedal area of the portion of the
container body of FIG. 2 having an indentifier trim piece
installed;
[0011] FIG. 4 illustrates a foot pedal area of a portion of the
container body of FIG. 3 having a lid actuator installed;
[0012] FIG. 5 illustrates a foot pedal area of a portion of the
container body of FIG. 4 having a foot pedal installed; and
[0013] FIGS. 6A-6B illustrate an embodiment of a trim piece and a
foot pedal.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0014] FIG. 1 illustrates an implementation of the container 100
having a lid actuated foot pedal according to the present
disclosure. The container includes a container body 102 having one
or more lids 104a, 104ba, 104b. Lids 104a, 104b are illustrated in
the closed position. Each lid 104a, 104b covers a separate internal
area (not shown) of container body 102. The separate internal areas
may have removable bins (not shown), which are concealed by lids
104a, 104b when the lids are in the closed position. In the
embodiment shown, two pedals and respective lids are within a
single container body. However, one or more pedal/lid assemblies
may be within the container body.
[0015] Container body 102 has a foot pedal portion 110a, 110b
corresponding to a respective lid 104a, 104b. Foot pedal portion
110a, 110b can be metal and substantially flush with an outer
periphery of container body 102. The foot pedal portion may have a
surface contour distinguishable from the rest of the container
body.
[0016] An identifier trim 112a, 112b may be installed around the
foot pedal portion. Identifier trim 112 may have a distinguishing
characteristic to distinguish between respective foot pedal
portions. For example, the identifier trim may be distinguished by
color or surface finish. Each lid 104a, 104b is coupled to a
respective foot pedal 106a, 106b by a respective lid actuator 108a,
108b. Each foot pedal 106a, 106b is coupled to respective foot
pedal portion 110a, 110b and free to pivot therein. Lid actuator
108a, 108b can protrude from container body 102 through an opening
(not shown) therein in the foot pedal portion and may also protrude
through the identifier trim through an opening (not shown) therein.
Lid actuator 108a, 108b is free to rotate in the respective opening
in the identifier trim and the container body. Lid actuator 108a,
108b is arranged so that pivoting of the foot pedal translates to a
rotation of the lid actuator.
[0017] A base trim 114 can be assembled to a bottom of container
body 102 to support the container body on the floor. However, other
support mechanisms may be used. A top trim 116 can be assembled to
a top of container body 102 and surround the lid 104.
[0018] FIG. 2 illustrates a detailed view of a foot pedal portion
110a of a container body 102. Foot pedal portion 110a can have one
or more identifier trim holes 204 through the container body 102
for mounting of the identifier trim to the container body. Foot
pedal portion 110a can have one or more foot pedal holes 206
through the container body 102 for mounting of the foot pedal to
the container body. A pedal portion lid actuator hole 208 through
the container body 102 may be provided for passage of the lid
actuator therethrough.
[0019] FIG. 3 illustrates foot pedal portion 110a of container body
102 having identifier trim 112a installed. In an implementation,
identifier trim 112a has an identifier trim lid actuator hole 308
for passage of a lid actuator therethrough. Identifier trim lid
actuator hole 308 can be made to align with pedal portion lid
actuator hole 208 to provide for passage of the lid actuator
through both the pedal portion and the identifier trim. FIG. 4
illustrates lid actuator 108a assembled to container body 102 by
passage through the pedal portion lid actuator hole in the pedal
portion 110a and passage through the identifier trim lid actuator
hole in the identifier trim 112a.
[0020] FIG. 5 illustrates foot pedal 106a assembled to foot pedal
portion 110a of container body 102. Foot pedal 106a can be
assembled using the foot pedal holes 206. Foot pedal 106a can pivot
downwards with respect to the foot pedal portion when a downward
force is applied to the foot pedal. In an implementation, foot
pedal 106a can have pedal end caps 502 to cover the ends of the
foot pedal. The foot pedal may be made of metal and the pedal end
caps made of plastic. The pedal end caps can protect a user of the
container from possible injury from contact with ends of the foot
pedal.
[0021] FIG. 6A illustrates identifier trim 112 having an identifier
trim lid actuator hole 208. FIG. 6B illustrates a foot pedal 106a.
Foot pedal 106a can have end caps 502 as discussed herein above.
Foot pedal 106 can have foot pedal tabs 602 with foot pedal
retainers 604 substantially perpendicular to the pedal tabs. The
foot pedal can be assembled to the container body by inserting the
foot pedal tabs 602 into respective foot pedal holes 206 in foot
pedal portion 110 of container body 102, as discussed herein above.
Foot pedal retainers 604 can inhibit the foot pedal from removal
from the foot pedal holes. The foot pedal may rest upon the lid
actuator 108a.
[0022] When a downward force is applied to the foot pedal, the foot
pedal pivots in the foot pedal hole of the container body. The foot
pedal thus presses on the lid actuator causing the lid actuator to
rotate in identifier trim lid actuator hole and the container body
lid actuator hole. A mechanism (not shown) can cause the rotational
motion of the lid actuator to be translated into a force to cause a
respective lid to open.
[0023] A user opens the lid by applying a downward pressure using
the user's foot, for example, on the foot pedal of the container
having a pedal actuated lid. The foot pedal portion being flush
with the container body and made of metal can inhibit damage to the
container body. The identifying trim can help a user identify
different bins (not shown) under a respective lid. In this way
different bins may be used for different purposes. For example,
different bins may be used to separate differing recyclable
materials.
[0024] While a two lid container has been described and
illustrated, this shall not be considered limiting. One or more
pedal actuated lids may be provided consistent with the embodiments
described herein.
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