Garbage Can Holder

Abstract

A cylindrical concrete base is used to anchor a cylindrical open frame into which a garbage can is placed. A right angle arm is slidably journaled to the frame and is normally biased to urge the can cover in closing relation to the can. Detent means are provided between the frame and the arm to allow temporary positioning of the arm in a fixed position displaced from the can cover thereby permitting the removal of the cover or the entire can from the frame. The frame is constructed to support the bottom of the can in spaced relation to the concrete base thereby preventing the accumulation of material therebetween. The diameters of the base and the frame are equal to allow rolling of the can holder.

Description

The present invention relates to receptacle holders and more particularly to a garbage can holder.

The prior art includes a number of designs for garbage can holders that are weighted so that an inserted garbage can may be maintained in an upright position indefinitely. Generally, these holders include a heavy base which mounts a frame for retaining the garbage can therein. In certain of these devices, the supporting frame is formed in a manner allowing the disposition of the garbage can bottom in contacting juxtaposition with the base. By experience, it has been found that foreign matter and moisture collects between the can bottom and a confronting surface of the base thereby promoting corrosion of the can. Further, a great number of the prior art devices do not include means for normally biasing the can cover in closing contact with the can so that occasionally, strong winds or other factors cause unwanted removal and loss of a can cover resulting in troublesome trash spreading.

The present can holder includes a cylindrical base and open cylindrical frame having substantially identical diameters so that the holder may be turned over and easily rolled from one place to another. However, once in the upright position, it is practically impossible to cause the tilting of the holder by inadvertent forces. Also, the frame in the present holder supports the bottom of the can in spaced relation to the base so that foreign material cannot collect therebetween. Further, the present invention includes a hold-down arm which normally urges the can cover downwardly on the can so that loss is prevented. The hold-down arm cooperates with detent means for permitting the swinging displacement of the arm into a temporary fixed position away from the can whereby removal of the can cover or the can itself can be effected without the arm swinging into the way of the user.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the disposition of a garbage can in the present holder.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the holder itself.

FIG. 3 is a partial sectional view fully illustrating can cover hold-down means.

FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view showing detent means for retaining the hold-down means in a cleared position.

Referring to the drawings and more particularly FIG. 1 thereof, a conventional garbage can 10 having a cover 12 is disposed within the present holder. The holder itself includes a cylindrical weighted base 14 fabricated from a suitable heavy and inexpensive material such as concrete. The base 14 anchors the lower ends of a cylindrical open frame 16 which embraces the central portion of the can 10. A hold-down arm 18 is normally disposed in overlying contact with the cover 12 to urge the cover into engagement with the can thereby preventing inadvertent removal of the cover. Referring to FIG. 2, the frame itself is seen to include four parallel spaced upright members 20 anchored at the lower ends thereof in the concrete base or block 14 as more clearly shown in FIG. 3. Crossbars 22 are suitably connected by welding or the like to the lower end portions of the vertical members 20. As will be seen in FIG. 3, the crossbars 22 are vertically spaced from the upper surface of the base 14 so that the bottom of the can 16 is spaced from the base thereby preventing the accumulation of foreign material and moisture therebetween which would encourage corrosion of the can bottom 24. A ring 26 connects the upper ends of the vertical members 20 and embraces the central body of can 10. A tubular sleeve or journal 28 is suitably connected by means of welding or the like to the outside of a vertical member 20 and serves as a journal for the hold-down arm 18.

Viewing FIG. 3, the hold-down arm 18 is seen to include a first vertical portion 30 extending to a right angled horizontal portion 32 which overlies the can cover 12. The lower end of the vertical arm portion 30 mounts one end 36 of a coil spring 34 while the opposite end 38 of the spring is linked to the crossbars 22 by a hook 40. Normally, spring 34 exerts a downward force on the hold-down arm 18 so that the can cover 12 is usually urged into closing relation with the can.

During those times when the hold-down arm 18 is to be displaced from its engagement with the can cover, it is desirable to have the arm displaced to a fixed position so that it is temporarily restrained from impeding an individual who is removing the can cover or the entire can from the holder. To facilitate this temporary restraint, detent means as shown in FIG. 4 are employed. These detent means include notches 42 radially formed in the upper edge of journal 28. The notches are disposed 90 degrees from one another so that a total of four notches are formed. Of course, as will be appreciated, more or fewer notches may be formed. A radially extending pin 44 is suitably attached to the arm portion 30 and may be selectively positioned in one of the notches 42. The spring 34 (FIG. 3) retains the pin 44 in the preselected notch until the arm is raised and rotated thereby causing the pin to clear the notch in which it was seated. One of the notches 46 is adapted to retain the arm 18 in overlying relation with the can cover 12 as seen in FIG. 1. When it is desired to remove the hold-down arm from its contacting position, the arm is lifted and rotated to a position shown in phantom and indicated by 48 in FIG. 2.

Referring to FIG. 1, the diameter of base 14 and the ring 26 are substantially the same diameter so that the can holder may be pushed over and conveniently rolled from one place to another.

Further, although the present invention has been described in the preferred embodiment as being utilized with a garbage can, any similar container can be used.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be restored to, falling within the scope of the invention.

Claims

I claim:

1. A holder for a covered container, said holder including a rigid, one-piece and heavyweight base adapted to be placed upon a suitable support surface, two pairs of upright members having their lower ends rigidly embedded within said base with said upright members spaced generally equally about a circular area closed at its bottom by said base and the upright members of each pair being disposed generally diametrically opposite each other relative to said area, and an upper horizontal generally circular ring disposed above said base and to which generally equally peripherally spaced portions thereof the upper ends of said upright members are rigidly anchored, a pair of cross-bars extending generally along diameters of said area and spaced slightly above said base with the opposite ends of said bars rigidly anchored to the lower end portions of the corresponding pairs of uprights, said cross-bars serving to reinforce said uprights and also to define an X-type support frame for supporting the lower portion of a container disposed in said area within the confines of said ring and said container supported in a position elevated slightly above said base, an upstanding sleeve secured to and generally paralleling the outer side of the upper end portion of one of said uprights, an upstanding arm portion rotatably and slidably disposed through said sleeve, the upper end of said upstanding arm including a generally horizontal arm portion for overlying and downwardly urging the cover of a container supported from said cross-bars within said area, means yieldingly biasing said upstanding arm portion downwardly relative to said sleeve and said one upright, said sleeve and upstanding arm portion including coacting detent means operable to releasably retain said upstanding arm portion in first and second angularly displaced positions, said first angularly displaced position of said upstanding arm portion being in position thereof with said horizontal arm portion projecting inwardly of and extending generally radially of the center axis of said area and the second angularly displaced position of said upstanding arm portion being in a position with said horizontal arm portion disposed entirely outside said area.