Trash can assembly
AssigneeSimplehumer, LLC
InventorsFrank Yang, Joseph Sandor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A trash can assembly has a lid pivotably coupled to an upper end of an outer shell, and a pivoting pedal bar that is coupled to the lid via a link rod. The closing motion of the lid is dampened by counter-balancing the closing force of the lid, which can be accomplished by generating a counter-balance force against the pedal bar that is equal to or slightly less than the closing force of the lid. The counter-balance force can be made to vary during the closing motion of the lid. In addition, the entire link rod can be positioned inside the interior of the outer shell, and the pivot axis of the lid about the outer shell can also also positioned inside the interior of the outer shell.
Claims20
A trash can assembly, comprising:
- an outer shell having an upper end and a lower end;
- a base secured to the lower end of the outer shell;
- a lid pivotably coupled to the upper end of the outer shell for movement between an open position and a closed position, the lid experiencing a closing force when the lid pivots from the open position to the closed position;
- a pedal pivotably coupled to the base, and having an inner end;
- a link rod having an upper end pivotably coupled to the lid and a lower end coupled to the inner end of the pedal;
- and
- an elastic element coupled to the base, the elastic element applying a varying force to dampen the closing force of the lid.
A trash can assembly, comprising:
- an outer shell having an interior, an upper end and a lower end;
- a base secured to the lower end of the outer shell;
- a lid pivotably coupled to the upper end of the outer shell for movement between an open position and a closed position;
- a pedal pivotably coupled to the base, and having an inner end;
- and
- a link rod having an upper end pivotably coupled to the lid and a lower end coupled to the inner end of the pedal, with the entire link rod being positioned inside the interior of the outer shell.
A trash can assembly, comprising:
- an outer shell having an interior, an upper end and a lower end;
- a base secured to the lower end of the outer shell;
- a lid pivotably coupled to the upper end of the outer shell about a pivot axis for movement between an open position and a closed position;
- a pedal pivotably coupled to the base, and having an inner end;
- and
- a link rod having an upper end pivotably coupled to the lid and a lower end coupled to the inner end of the pedal;
- wherein the pivot axis is positioned inside the interior of the outer shell.
A trash can assembly, comprising:
- an outer shell having an upper end;
- a lid pivotably coupled to the upper end of the outer shell for movement between an open position and a closed position;
- a mounting bracket provided on the lid and having at least one through hole;
- a channel provided at the upper end of the outer shell and defining a bore;
- a pivot bar that is received inside the at least one through hole and the bore to pivotably couple the lid to the outer shell;
- and
- a locking bolt that extends through a portion of the mounting bracket to removably engage the pivot bar.
A method of dampening the closing motion of a pivotable lid that is pivotably coupled to an upper end of an outer shell of a trash can assembly, where the lid creates a closing force during its closing motion, comprising:
- counter-balancing the closing force of the lid.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.