Trash can assembly with motion damper for lid
OwnerFrank Yang, Joseph Sandorinventors
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A trash can assembly has an outer shell, a foot pedal pivotably coupled to the bottom end of the outer shell along the front side of the outer shell, a lid pivotably coupled to the top end of the outer shell, and a link assembly coupling the foot pedal to the lid. The link assembly includes a lifting rod that extends vertically inside the outer shell, the lifting rod moving forwardly towards the front side of the outer shell when the lid is closed. A biasing member is provided inside the outer shell and applies an opposing force against the forward motion of the lifting rod when the lid is being closed.
Claims12
A trash can assembly, comprising:
- an outer shell having an enclosing wall, a top end, a bottom end, and a front side;
- a foot pedal pivotably coupled to the bottom end along the front side;
- a lid pivotably coupled to the top end;
- a link assembly coupling the foot pedal to the lid, the link assembly including a lifting rod that extends vertically inside the outer shell, the lifting rod moving forwardly towards the front side of the outer shell when the lid is closed;
- and
- a biasing member provided inside the outer shell and applying an opposing force against the forward motion of the lifting rod when the lid is being closed.
A method of slowing the closing motion of a lid of a trash can assembly, comprising:
- a. providing a trash can assembly having:
- an outer shell having an enclosing wall, a top end, a bottom end, and a front side;
- a foot pedal pivotably coupled to the bottom end along the front side;
- a lid pivotably coupled to the top end;
- a link assembly coupling the foot pedal to the lid, the link assembly including a lifting rod that extends vertically inside the outer shell, the lifting rod moving forwardly towards the front side of the outer shell when the lid is closed;
- and
- b. applying an opposing force against the forward motion of the lifting rod when the lid is being closed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.