Garbage Grinder Stuffer

Abstract

A stuffer is constructed for feeding the garbage material to a garbage grinder having a central neck section and stuffer and handhold elements on the ends thereof. Either end may be employed as a handhold element or as a stuffer element for directing the garbage into the neck of the grinder and forcing it downwardly thereinto past the resilient closure elements. The stuffer herein illustrated is made of plastic and is preferably of hollow construction made by a blow molding process.

Description

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention pertains to a stuffer for forcing garbage past the neck of a garbage grinder having a central neck section with a stuffer at each end, the one being employed as a handhold element while the other is used for stuffing the garbage. In the illustrated embodiment, the neck is of cylindrical form while the ends are of converging shape to fit within the neck of the grinder but of such width at the inner end as to prevent the end from passing through the grinder neck. The stuffer is made of a plastic material by a blow molding process to have the neck and both end sections hollow so as to be of light construction while providing sufficient rigidity and bulk to form handholds by which the opposite end is manipulated to stuff the garbage into the grinder.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a view in elevation of a garbage grinder stuffer embodying features of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the structure illustrated in FIG. 1, and

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the structure illustrated in FIG. 1, taken on the line 3--3 thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The stuffer 11 of the present invention has a cylindrical neck portion 12 and a first stuffer end portion 13 extending from one end thereof and a second stuffer end portion 14 extending from the opposite end thereof. As herein illustrated, the stuffer is constructed from a plastic material which is blow molded in the conventional manner to have a hollow interior 15 and wall sections 16 of desired thickness to provide strength to the stuffer. As herein illustrated, the bottom 17 of the stuffer portion 13 is of concaved shape for maintaining the garbage and for directing it into the neck of the grinder. The section of the end stuffer 13, as illustrated in FIG. 3, is rectangular or ovoid in shape having the side portions 18 and 19 substantially closer to each other than the end portions 21 and 22.

The side portions 18 and 19 and the end portions 21 and 22 converge from the inner to the outer end of the stuffer element 13 with the width of the inner end substantially larger than the neck opening of the garbage grinder to prevent it from passing therethrough. While the same width could be provided on the stuffer element 14, it is preferably of less width so that it can pass through the garbage grinder neck and displace the garbage when suspended in the grinder and not being ground. The inner round portions 24 of the stuffer portion 14 forms a grip for the fingers when the stuffer portion 13 is employed. The stuffer portion 13 also has round shoulder portions 23 which are grasped by the fingers for manipulating the stuffer portion 14 when it is employed for moving the garbage into the grinder.

The stuffer portion 14 has sides 25 and 26 which converge to an edge which cuts into and breaks up the garbage when being employed to stuff it into the neck of the grinder. The stuffer portion 14 may be provided with an aperture 27 near the converged edge by which the stuffer may be supported on a hook. In view of the recess 17 in the bottom of the stuffer portion 13 the stuffer can be stood upon the sink without rocking. In view of the provision of the aperture 27 as a support for the stuffer, the bottom thereof may be flat rather than of concave shape. The stuffer is unique in providing dissimilar stuffer elements on the ends of a central neck section either of which function as a handhold when the other is used for stuffing.

While blow molding has been mentioned, each stuffer element could be molded separately and the ends of the neck sections secured together. While polyolefin resins are usually employed for blow molding, other types could be substituted which can also be used to produce the stuffer by slush or rotary casting methods. In the blow molding process the nozzle could be withdrawn and the nozzle hole sealed.

Claims

I claim:

1. In a stuffer for a garbage grinder, a body of plastic material having a neck portion, and dissimilar stuffer elements for garbage at opposite ends of said neck portion, each stuffer element forming a handhold for manipulating the stuffer element at the opposite end of the neck portion for stuffing the garbage into the grinder, one of said stuffer elements being of rectangular ovate form converging toward the corresponding end and of a width at the inner end which prevents the stuffer element from passing through the neck of the grinder.

2. In a stuffer for a garbage grinder as recited in claim 1, wherein the stuffer element at one end of the neck has side walls which converge to an edge for breaking up the garbage as it is stuffed.

3. In a stuffer for a garbage grinder as recited in claim 1, wherein the stuffer at the opposite end of the neck portion has flat sides which converge to an edge for breaking up the garbage as it is stuffed.

4. In a stuffer for a garbage grinder as recited in claim 3, wherein an aperture is provided through the end of the stuffer element having the converging sides by which the stuffer is supported.

5. In a stuffer for a garbage grinder as recited in claim 3, wherein the interior of the neck portion and the stuffer elements are hollow providing a wall of predetermined thickness.

6. In a stuffer for a garbage grinder as recited in claim 3, wherein the end of the stuffer element of rectangular ovate form is of concave shape.

7. In a stuffer for a garbage grinder as recited in claim 3, wherein the stuffer element having the converging side walls has a width which permits it to pass through the neck of the garbage grinder.