Can crushing apparatus

A can crushing device adapted for use with a receptacle having a receptacle opening;

• said can crushing device comprising:
• (a) a base adapted to be positioned on the receptacle to cover the receptacle opening;
• said base having a disposal opening extending therethrough, and, when positioned on the receptacle, said disposal opening is located above and in communication with the receptacle opening;
• (b) a lever arm pivotally connected at a pivot end of said lever arm to said base and pivotally movable between a closed position wherein said lever arm engages said base along a substantial length thereof and extends across said disposal opening and an open position wherein said lever arm is connected near said pivot end thereof to said base and a remainder of said lever arm is angled away from said base;
• (c) a can support surface on said base extending from said disposal opening toward said pivot end of said lever arm;
• said support surface adapted to receive a can thereon when said lever arm is in said open position such that the can is supported by said support surface and is positioned in close proximity to said disposal opening so that the center of gravity of the can is positioned vertically above said can support surface;
• and
• (d) a can engaging structure secured to said lever arm;
• said lever arm being movable between said open position and a can engaging position wherein said can engaging structure is adapted to engage an upper surface of a can positioned on said can support surface;
• said can engaging structure being shaped and positioned so as to be adapted to engage a can upper surface on a side of the can upper surface furthest away from said pivot end of said lever arm when said lever arm is in said can engaging position;
• said lever arm being movable between said can engaging position and said closed position so as to be adapted to crush a can in such a manner that after crushing the center of gravity of the can is vertically positioned over said disposal opening and when said lever arm is subsequently moved towards said open position the can falls through said disposal opening.

An apparatus for crushing cans comprising:

• (a) a base adapted to be positioned on a receptacle having a receptacle opening such that said base covers the receptacle opening;
• said base having a disposal opening extending therethrough adapted to be positioned over and communicate with said receptacle opening;
• (b) a lever arm pivotally connected at a pivot end of said lever arm to said base and pivotally movable between a closed position wherein said lever arm engages said base along a substantial length of said lever arm and covers said disposal opening and an open position wherein the lever arm is angled relative to said base;
• (c) a can support shelf secured to an underside of said base and extending across a portion of said disposal opening closest to the pivot end of the lever arm;
• and
• (d) a can engaging structure secured to said lever arm and including an initial can engaging surface and a secondary can engaging surface;
• (e) said lever arm being movable between said open position and a can engaging position wherein said initial can engaging surface is adapted to engage an upper surface of a can positioned on said can support shelf;
• said initial can engaging surface including can engaging means that are sized and positioned to be adapted to engage the can on a side of the can upper surface furthest away from said pivot end of said lever arm such that when a downward force is applied to said lever arm by a user to advance said lever arm from said can engaging position towards said closed position said initial can engaging surface is adapted to initially concentrate the force along the side of the can upper surface furthest away from said pivot end of said lever arm and as said lever arm is further advanced towards said closed position said initial can engaging surface and said secondary can engaging surface cooperate to crush the can in such a manner that the center of gravity of the can after crushing is positioned over said disposal opening such that when said lever arm is subsequently advanced to said open position the can falls through said disposal opening into said receptacle.