Multi-compartment container

A multi-compartmented container comprising:

• a) a housing defined by side, rear, bottom and upper front walls;
• b) a lower front wall pivotally attached to one of a side wall or said bottom wall;
• c) a top wall including a depending peripheral skirt having front, side and rear wall portions, said rear wall portion being spaced from and pivotally attached to said housing rear wall;
• d) first means defining at least one first compartment in an upper portion of said container;
• e) second means defining at least one second compartment connected to said lower front wall;
• f) first pivot means operable by a user to open said top wall so as to provide access to said at least one first compartment, said first pivot means including a lever arm pivotally connected intermediate its ends to and below said bottom wall, said lever arm extending to a foot pedal in front of said housing, a rod extending upwardly adjacent said rear wall with a lower end of said rod contacting said lever arm, and a lug attached to said skirt rear wall portion and of such a length that initial upward movement of said rod will bring its upper end into force applying contact with said lug to pivot said top wall upwardly to its open condition, and continued upward movement of said rod will move its upper end past the inner end of said lug whereby the lug inner end can bear against said rod to prevent said top wall from returning to its closed condition;
• and
• g) second pivot means operable by a user to pivot said lower front wall forwardly so as to provide access to said at least one second compartment.

A multi-compartment refuse container comprising:

• a) a housing defined by a bottom wall and upright rear, side and upper front walls;
• b) a lower front wall pivotally attached to said bottom wall along a forward edge thereof and sized to close a lower opening in said housing below said upper front wall;
• c) a top wall including a depending peripheral skirt having front, side and rear wall portions, said rear wall portion being spaced from and pivotally attached to said housing rear wall;
• d) first means delineating a plurality of upwardly opening first refuse compartments in an upper portion of said housing;
• e) second means delineating a plurality of upwardly opening second refuse compartments connected to said lower front wall for containment in a lower portion of said housing;
• f) first pivot means operable by a user's foot to pivot said top wall from a closed position to an open condition so as to provide access to said first refuse compartments, said first pivot means including a lever arm pivotally connected intermediate its ends to and below said bottom wall, said lever arm extending to a foot pedal in front of said housing, a rod extending upwardly adjacent said rear wall with a lower end of said rod contacting said lever arm, and a lug attached to said skirt rear wall portion and of such a length that initial upward movement of said rod will bring its upper end into force applying contact with said lug to pivot said top wall upwardly to its open condition, and continued upward movement of said rod will move its upper end past the inner end of said lug whereby the inner end of said lug can bear against said rod to prevent said top wall from returning to its closed position;
• and
• g) second pivot means operable by a user's foot to pivot said lower front wall forwardly from a closed position to an open condition so as to provide access to said second refuse compartments.

A multi-compartmented container comprising:

• a) a housing defined by side, rear, bottom and upper front walls, said bottom wall being spaced upwardly above a ground plane;
• b) a lower front wall pivotally attached to said bottom wall;
• c) a top wall including a depending skirt having front, rear and side portions, said rear skirt portion being spaced from said housing rear wall and mounting a lug which extends towards said housing rear wall;
• d) at least one mounting block secured to said housing rear wall adjacent a top edge thereof and hinge means attached to said block and said rear skirt portion;
• e) first means defining at least one first compartment in an upper portion of said container;
• f) second means defining at least one second compartment connected to said lower front wall;
• g) first pivot means operable by a user to open said top wall so as to provide access to said at least one first compartment, said first pivot means including a lever arm pivotally connected intermediate its ends to and below said bottom wall, said lever arm extending from behind said rear wall to a foot pedal in front of said housing;
• and a rod extending upwardly adjacent said rear wall, a lower end of said rod contacting said lever arm;
• downward pressure on said foot pedal causing said rod to move upwardly, bringing its upper end into force applying contact with said lug to pivot said top wall upwardly on said hinge means to an open condition, and continued upward movement of said rod moving it past the inner end of said lug whereby the lug inner end can bear against said rod to prevent said top wall from returning to its closed condition;
• and
• h) independently operable second pivot means comprising at least one foot pedal extending forwardly from said lower front wall adjacent a bottom edge thereof whereby downward pressure on said last-mentioned foot pedal will cause said lower front wall to pivot forwardly.

A multi-compartmented container comprising:

• a) a housing defined by side, rear, bottom and upper front walls;
• b) a lower front wall pivotally attached to one of a side wall or said bottom wall.
• c) a top wall pivotally attached to said rear wall, said top wall including peripheral side walls depending therefrom;
• d) bag storage means contained in said top wall, said storage means including a storage compartment defined by said top wall, said peripheral side walls, and a sheet of flexible material spaced from said top wall and connected to said peripheral side walls, access to said storage compartment being through an opening defined by intersecting slots in said sheet of flexible material;
• e) first means defining at least one first compartment in an upper portion of said container;
• f) second means defining at least one second compartment connected to said lower front wall;
• g) first pivot means operable by a user to open said top wall so as to provide access to said at least one first compartment;
• and
• h) second pivot means operable by a user to pivot said lower front wall forwardly so as to provide access to said at least one second compartment.

A multi-compartmented refuse container comprising:

• a) a housing defined by a bottom wall spaced upwardly above a ground plane and upright rear, side and upper front walls;
• b) a lower front wall pivotally attached to said bottom wall along a forward edge thereof and sized to close a lower opening in said housing below said upper front wall;
• c) a top wall including a depending peripheral skirt having front, rear and side portions, said rear skirt portion being spaced from said housing rear wall and mounting a lug which extends towards said housing rear wall;
• d) at least one mounting block secured to said housing rear wall adjacent a top edge thereof and hinge means attached to said block and said rear skirt portion;
• e) first means delineating a plurality of upwardly opening first refuse compartments in an upper portion of said housing;
• f) second means delineating a plurality of upwardly opening second refuse compartments connected to said lower front wall for containment in a lower portion of said housing;
• g) first pivot means operable by a user's foot to pivot said top wall from a closed position to an open condition so as to provide access to said first refuse compartments, said first pivot means including a lever arm pivotally connected intermediate its ends to and below said bottom wall, said lever arm extending from behind said rear wall to a foot pedal in front of said lower front wall;
• and a rod extending upwardly adjacent said rear wall with a lower end of said rod contacting said lever arm;
• downward pressure on said foot pedal causing said rod to move upwardly, bringing its upper end into force applying contact with said lug to pivot said top wall upwardly on said hinge means to its open condition, and continued upwardly movement of said rod moving it past the inner end of said lug whereby the lug inner end can bear against said rod to prevent said top wall from returning to its closed position;
• and
• h) independent second pivot means operable by a user's foot to pivot said lower front wall forwardly from a closed position to an open condition so as to provide access to said second refuse compartments, said second pivot means including at least one foot pedal extending forwardly from said lower front wall adjacent a bottom edge thereof.