Step-on wastebasket

A wastebasket, which comprises:

• a container having a top opening formed therein;
• a lid mounted on the container and adapted to pivot about a pivot axis to cover and uncover the top opening;
• and
• means for actuating pivotal movement of the lid with respect to the container between positions covering and uncovering the top opening, the lid movement actuating means including a generally horizontal operating lever pivotally mounted on the container at a lower portion thereof, means defining a slot mounted on the lid and situated thereon generally at the lid pivot axis, and link means interconnecting the operating lever and slot defining means;
• the operating lever having an intermediate portion pivotally mounted on the container, and front and rear portions disposed on opposite sides of the intermediate portion, the front portion including an operating pedal;
• the link means being joined to the operating lever at the rear portion thereof and extending upwardly therefrom to the slot defining means, the link means including an upper end portion slidably engageable in the slot, the link means being adapted to be raised and lowered by pivotal movement of the operating lever;
• the slot being defined with an elongated channel, and with first and second enlargements situated at opposite ends of the elongated channel and disposed on opposite sides of the pivot axis;
• the slot defining means including a ridge protruding inwardly of the slot and situated at the end of the channel near the first enlargement, and defining the channel with a portion which is upwardly turned at an angle toward the second enlargement;
• wherein the upper end portion of the link means is received by the first enlarged and guided by the ridge into engagement with the lid flange at the top of the first enlargement when the link means is raised by the operating lever to pivot the lid to the open position, the upper end portion sliding through the channel from the first enlargement to the second enlargement when the lid is in the open position and pressure on the operating pedal is released, and wherein the upper end portion engages the slot defining means at the top of the second enlargement when the link means is raised by the operating lever to pivot the lid to the closed position, the upper end portion sliding through the channel from the second enlargement to the first enlargement when the lid is in the closed position and pressure on the operating pedal is released.