Rubbish Disposal Device

Abstract

A rubbish disposal device including a chute extending through a wall so as to leave a small portion having a flat upper surface projecting on the outside of the wall, the chute having a spring-loaded door normally closed. A rubbish container fits on the outside of the wall, having an opening receiving the projecting portion of the chute, being suspended from the chute by resting on the upper surface of the chute, and retained on the chute by a flange on the upper surface of the chute spaced from the outer wall surface.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a rubbish disposal device particularly adapted for campers, trailers, motor homes or the like.

2. Description of Prior Art

For campers, trailers and the like, there has been no satisfactory way of disposing of rubbish. The interiors of campers and trailers necessarily provide very limited space. There is virtually no location for placing a wastebasket or container without its continually being in the way of the occupants. Any such waste container must be rather small to fit within the confined space of the interior, which means that it fills rapidly and necessitates numerous trips to the rubbish disposal area. Alternatively, the interior of the camper or trailer becomes littered with trash.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a practical and convenient means for disposing of rubbish, particularly suitable for a unit, such as a camper or a trailer, where space is at a premium. The invention enables a removable rubbish container of substantial size to be suspended along the exterior of the unit, rather than taking up valuable space on the inside. The rubbish disposal device includes a tubular chute of rectangular configuration extending through an opening in one wall of the camper, trailer or other unit. This tubular chute normally is closed by a spring-loaded door which can be pressed to swing outwardly to uncover the opening through the chute. A catch carried by the door maintains it in a closed position when the unit is in motion, assuring that it is sealed and preventing rattles.

The rubbish container may be an ordinary plastic wastebasket of the type having a flat rear wall and preferably provided with an upper lid so that the interior normally is closed. The flat wall of the plastic rubbish container is provided with an opening dimensioned to receive the outwardly protruding portion of the tubular rubbish chute. The upper edge of the opening, which is reinforced with a metal strip, rests upon the flat upper surface of the chute, which suspends the rubbish container on the outside of the camper or trailer. An upstanding flange on the upper surface of the rubbish chute, spaced outwardly from the wall through which the chute extends, retains the rubbish container so that it will not become dislodged from the exterior portion of the rubbish chute.

The device is used by pressing open the pivotal spring-loaded door to allow the rubbish to drop through the wall and into the rubbish container on the outside. This means that the rubbish is quickly and easily removable from the living quarters and, once discarded, is completely sealed with respect to the interior of the unit. By using a sizable plastic rubbish container, a large quantity of refuse may be accommodated, minimizing the trips to the rubbish disposal area to empty the container. The container is installed easily by fitting it over the projecting portion of the rubbish chute and positioning the upper edge of the opening through the rubbish container between the flange on the chute and the outside wall of the trailer or camper. Removal of the unit is equally simple by lifting the upper edge of the rubbish container over the flange, permitting the container to be separated from the rubbish chute.

When the unit is in motion, the rubbish container is removed from the outside and stored inside, ready to be reinstalled on the projecting portion of the chute when a campground or other parking place is reached. Over and above all these advantages, the rubbish disposal unit of this invention is of low-cost construction and readily installed in existing campers, trailers, motor homes and the like.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the rubbish disposal unit of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a rear elevational view of the rubbish container; and

FIG. 3 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of the rubbish disposal unit attached to a wall.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT:

The rubbish disposal unit 10 of this invention includes a short tubular member 11 of rectangular cross section, which fits within an opening 12 formed in a wall 13 of a camper or trailer. The inner end 14 of the tubular member 11 is substantially flush with the inner surface 15 of the wall 13. The outer end 16 of the tubular member 11 projects beyond the outer surface 17 of the wall 13 and may be scarfed as illustrated, tapering in length from top to bottom. A peripheral flange 18 extends around the tubular section 11 and fits against the outer surface 17 of the wall 13 adjacent the opening 12. Also, there is a frame 19 on the inner wall surface 14 extending around the entrance to the tubular member 11. The unit 11 is suitably held in place, such as by fasteners 21 that extend through the wall 13 as well as through the flange 18 and the frame 19.

At the entrance to the tubular member 11 is a pivotal door 22, mounted on a hinge 23 that extends horizontally at the upper edge of the opening 12. This permits the door 22 to be rotated inwardly, as indicated in phantom lines in FIG. 3. The door 22 preferably is spring-loaded so that it will return to the closed position where its lower edge is adjacent the inner surface of the bottom portion of the peripheral frame 19. Also included on the door 22 at its lower edge is a catch 24. This serves as a detent to mechanically hold the door closed, preventing its rattling during movement of the camper or trailer.

Rubbish is disposed of by pressing the door 22 outwardly, allowing the refuse to be discarded through the member 11, which acts as a chute. The rubbish is received within a container 26 which is an adaptation of a conventional plastic wastebasket. The unit 26 has a flat backside 27 that will fit adjacent the outer surface 17 of the wall 13. It is desirable also that it have a pivotal lid 28 so that the interior is normally closed to help retain the material within it during its use. A rectangular opening 29 is formed in the wall 27 of the container 26, this opening being slightly larger than the outside dimension of the tubular member 11. A U-shaped metal reinforcement 30 is placed around the upper edge 31 of the opening 29 in the wall 27 of the container 26.

When the rubbish disposal unit is in its assembled position for use, the container 26 is suspended from the tubular member 11. This is very easily accomplished by fitting the container 26 over the tubular member 11 at the opening 29 so that the U-shaped reinforcement 30 of the container rests upon the flat upper surface 32 of the member 11. The reinforcement 30 is positioned behind an upstanding flange 33 that extends across the upper surface 32 of the tubular member 11. The flange 33 is spaced outwardly from and parallel to the flange 18 that engages the outer surface 17 of the wall 13. The upstanding flange 33 acts as an abutment that holds the container 26 on the tubular member 11 so that it will not slide off even if the unit is not parked on level ground so that the upper surface 32 is not horizontal. This provides an effective means for retaining the container 26, yet requiring no fasteners, catches or other auxiliary devices.

With the container 26 suspended from the chute 11, the reinforcement 30 prevents damage to the upper edge 31 of the opening 29, adding to the strength of the container and increasing its life. The scarfed outer edge 16 for the chute 11 helps direct the refuse into the bottom of the container 26.

It is a simple matter to install the container 26 by lifting it onto the tubular member, positioning the reinforcement 30 behind the upstanding flange 33 and then allowing the lower portion of the container to rotate inwardly toward the wall 13. Removal is an equally simple operation by reversing this process.

In normal use, the container 26 is installed on the side of the camper or trailer at the time it is parked, providing a convenient means for disposing of rubbish directly to the outside, leaving the interior of the camper or trailer free of a wastebasket or other container for rubbish. The unit 26 may have a large capacity, so that very few trips to the rubbish disposal area are required. At the same time, the unit 26 is neat in appearance and does not detract aesthetically from the camper or trailer. When the unit is in motion, the container 26 is merely removed from the tubular member 11 and stored inside. At that time, the slightly protruding outer end 16 of the tubular member is unobtrusive, adding little or no overall width to the camper or trailer. With the door 22 held shut by the catch 24, the inside of the camper or trailer is sealed, and there is no annoying rattling of the door.

An added advantage comes from utilizing a receptacle 26 with a lid 28 because it provides access to the interior of the receptacle from the outside of the wall 13. Thus, the receptacle can be used while cleaning the grounds outside the camper or trailer as well as in disposing of rubbish from within. The receptacle 26 may be lined with a paper bag so that washing is minimized, and may be used to dispose of garbage as well as other rubbish.

The foregoing detailed description is to be clearly understood as given by way of illustration and example only, the spirit and scope of this invention being limited solely by the appended claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. In combination with an upstanding wall having an inside surface, an outside surface and an opening extending between said inside and outside surfaces, a rubbish disposal device comprising

a tubular member received in said opening, said tubular member having an outside portion projecting beyond said outside surface of said wall,

said outside projecting portion having an upper surface,

a flange means on said upper surface, said flange means extending upwardly from said upper surface and being spaced from said outside surface of said wall, and

a container having an opening in one wall thereof, said opening being larger in vertical dimension than that of said outside projecting portion, said outside projecting portion being received in said opening in said wall of said container with said wall of said container at the upper periphery of said opening engaging said outside projecting portion so that said container is suspended from said outside projecting portion and there is access to the interior of said container through said tubular member from said inside surface of said upstanding wall,

said wall of said container at said upper periphery of said opening being positioned between said flange means and said outside surface of said upstanding wall.

2. A device as recited in claim 1 in which said upper surface of said outside projecting portion is substantially flat,

and in which said wall of said container at said upper periphery of said opening therethrough presents a substantially flat edge so engaging said substantially flat upper surface of said outside projecting portion.

3. A device as recited in claim 1 including in addition a door normally closing the opening through said tubular member.

4. A device as recited in claim 3 including in addition detent means for holding said door in a closed position.

5. A device as recited in claim 2 in which

said container is of plastic material, and in which there is a metal reinforcement along said substantially flat edge,

said metal reinforcement engaging said substantially flat upper surface of said projecting portion.

6. A device as recited in claim 5 in which said metal reinforcement is a substantially U-shaped strip overlapping both sides of said wall of said container at said upper periphery of said opening.

7. A device as recited in claim 6 in which said tubular member is rectangular in cross section.

8. A device as recited in claim 7 in which said projecting portion tapers in length from said upper surface portion thereof to the lower portion thereof so as to present a scarfed outer end.