Device for signifying whether or not a trash can has been opened
OwnerCorwin Sampsoninventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention is directed to the signification of whether or not a trash can has been opened. This is achieved through a specialized device that snugly and rotatably attaches to the handle of a trash can in an initial position such that a protrusion on the device rests on a hinge. As the trash can opens, the hinge pushes the protrusion, causing the device to rotate with the lid and reach an alternate state. As the trash can closes, the device remains in the alternate state, thus acting as a visual indicator that the trash can had previously been opened since the device was attached. The device can then be rotated back into the initial state for future use.
Claims17
A device (100) for signifying whether or not a trash can (200) has been opened, the device comprising:
- a. a tubular structure (101) having a first end and a second end;
- b. a protrusion (103) disposed at the first end of the tubular structure;
- and
- c. an arm (102) having a first end (110) and a second end (111), wherein the first end (110) of the arm is attached to the protrusion (103) such that the arm (102) is orthogonal to the tubular structure (101), wherein a flag (104) is disposed on the arm (102);
- wherein the trash can (200) comprises a container (210), a handle (201) externally attached to the container (210), a lid (203) that covers the container (210), and a hinge (202) that pivotably connects the lid (203) to the handle (201), wherein the lid (203) rotates around the handle (201) by the hinge (202) to open or close the trash can (200);
- wherein the tubular structure (101) snugly and rotatably attaches to the handle (201) and the protrusion (103) rests on the hinge (202),
- wherein the flag (104) is in a first position when the device is attached to the handle (201), wherein when the lid (203) is opened, the tubular structure (101) rotates and the flag (104) is moved to a second position indicating that the lid (203) has been opened.
A device (100) for signifying whether or not a trash can (200) has been opened, the device comprising:
- a. a handle attachment (101);
- b. an arm (102) attached orthogonally to the handle attachment (101), wherein a flag (104) is disposed on the first arm (102);
- and
- c. an extension (105) disposed on the handle attachment (101) or the arm (102);
- wherein the trash can (200) comprises a container (210), a lid (203) that covers the container (210), a handle (201) attached to the container (210), and a hinge (202) that pivotably connects the lid (203) to the handle (201);
- wherein the handle attachment (101) snugly and rotatably attaches to the handle (201) such that the flag (104) is in a first position and the extension (105) rest upon the hinge (202) or lid (203);
- wherein opening of the lid (203) moves the extension (105), which causes the handle attachment (101) to rotate and move the flag (104) to a second position indicating that the lid (203) has been opened.
A system for signifying whether or not a trash can (200) has been opened, the system comprising:
- a. the trash can (200) comprising:
- i. a container (210);
- ii. a lid (203) that covers the container (210);
- iii. a handle (201) externally attached lengthwise to a lip of the container (210);
- and
- iv. a hinge (202) that pivotably connects the lid (203) to the handle (201), wherein the lid (203) rotates around the handle (201) by the hinge (202) to open or close the trash can (200);
- b. a device (100), the device comprising:
- i. a tubular structure (101) having a first end and a second end, wherein a protrusion (103) is disposed at a first end of the tubular structure;
- and
- ii. an arm (102) attached to the protrusion (103), the arm (102) having a first end (110) and a second end (111), wherein the first end (110) is attached to the tubular structure (101) such that the arm (102) is orthogonal to the tubular structure (101), wherein a flag (104) is disposed on the arm (102);
- wherein the device (100) is snugly and rotatably attached to the handle (201) by the tubular structure (101), wherein the arm (102) and the flag (104) are in an initial position, wherein the protrusion (103) rests on the hinge (202);
- wherein when the trash can (200) is opened, the protrusion (103) is pushed by the hinge (202), such that the tubular structure (101) rotates the flag (104) in a same direction as the lid (203) around the handle (201) into an alternate position;
- and
- wherein, when the trash can (200) is closed, the flag (104) remains in the alternate position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.