Trash container
OwnerJonathan L. Knightinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The invention provides trash containers useful for preventing unauthorized or excess authorized trash from being deposited into the trash containers. The trash containers comprise a body; an opening; a lid attached to the body; a latch means; a latch means receptacle; and a coin-operated mechanism. Individuals that want to deposit trash must gain access to the trash containers by paying a fee via the coin-operated mechanism to activate the latch and allow the individual to open the lid and insert trash into the trash containers. In some embodiments, the trash containers are configured to allow only a certain amount of trash to be deposited into the trash containers per fee paid.
Claims15
A trash container comprising:
- a body defining a substantially enclosed inner area suitable for receiving and containing trash;
- an opening in the body suitable for inserting trash into and removing trash from the body;
- a lid attached by one or more hinges to the body, the lid being configured to match the shape and size of the opening such that the body and the lid form an essentially enclosed inner area when the lid is placed over the opening;
- a latch means affixed to either the lid or to the body;
- an latch means receptacle affixed to either the lid or to the body, wherein the latch means receptacle is affixed to the lid if the latch means is affixed to the body or the latch means receptacle is affixed to the body if the latch means is affixed to the lid, wherein the lid is essentially sealed to the opening by operating the latch means so that the latch means is inserted into the latch means receptacle;
- and
- a coin-operated mechanism attached to the body or to the lid and coupled to the latch means such that the coin-operated mechanism is capable of operating the latch means to insert at least a portion of the latch means into or remove the latch means from the latch means receptacle, wherein the coin-operated mechanism is activated to remove the latch means from the latch means receptacle when a payment means triggers the coin-operated mechanism.
A method for preventing the deposit of unauthorized trash or excess authorized trash into trash containers comprising:
- providing individuals wanting to deposit trash into a trash container with access to a trash container comprising a body defining a substantially enclosed inner area suitable for receiving and containing trash;
- an opening in the body suitable for inserting trash into and removing trash from the body;
- a lid attached by one or more hinges to the body, the lid being configured to match the shape and size of the opening such that the body and the lid form an essentially enclosed inner area when the lid is placed over the opening;
- a latch means affixed to either the lid or to the body;
- an latch means receptacle affixed to either the lid or to the body, wherein the latch means receptacle is affixed to the lid if the latch means is affixed to the body or the latch means receptacle is affixed to the body if the latch means is affixed to the lid, wherein the lid is essentially sealed to the opening by operating the latch means so that the latch means is inserted into the latch means receptacle;
- and a coin-operated mechanism attached to the body or to the lid and coupled to the latch means such that the coin-operated mechanism is capable of operating the latch means to insert at least a portion of the latch means into or remove the latch means from the latch means receptacle, wherein the coin-operated mechanism is activated to remove the latch means from the latch means receptacle when a payment means triggers the coin-operated mechanism;
- and
- requiring the individual to pay a fee using the coin-operated mechanism and the payment means to deposit an authorized amount of trash.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.