Animal resistant trash container and method
OwnerDavid A. Sutherlininventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An improved animal tamper-resistant trash container and method of constructing same utilizing a conventional trash container having a bottom, side wall and an open upper end and removable lid therefor. The improvement includes a first and second annular band or ring each clampably connectable around the lid and container adjacent its opening, respectively. A hinge is formed between the first and second bands whereby the lid is permanently pivotally attached to the open upper end of the container. A unique latch, which automatically engages when the lid falls to a closed position, is virtually unopenable by large wild animals such as a raccoon, fox, opossum, dogs and the like.
Claims12
An improved animal resistant trash container constructed using a conventional trash container having a bottom and a side wall extending from said bottom to define an open end generally parallel to and spaced from said bottom, said conventional container including a separate lid which closably engages over said opening, the improvement comprising:
- a first annular band clampably connectable around a transverse circumference of said container immediately adjacent said open end;
- a second annular band clampably connectable around a perimeter of said lid;
- a hinge pivotally connecting a common point of said first and second bands;
- latch means for automatically releasably locking said lid after falling to its closed position.
A method of constructing an improved animal resistent trash container using a conventional trash container having a bottom and a side wall extending from said bottom to define an open end generally parallel to and spaced from said bottom, said conventional container including a separate lid which closably engages over said opening, comprising the steps of:
- A. clampably connecting a first annular band around a transverse perimeter of said container immediately adjacent said open end;
- B. clampably connecting a second annular band around a perimeter of said lid;
- said first and second bands being pivotally connectable to one another by a hinge about a common generally tangent axis therebetween, said common axis being transverse to said container;
- said first and second bands being automatically releasably lockable together by a latch means positioned diametrically opposite from said hinge so as to prevent said lid from being opened by an animal after pivotally falling to a closed position on said open end.
A kit for converting a conventional trash container having a separate lid into an improved animal resistant trash container, said kit comprising:
- a first annular band clampably connectable around a transverse circumference of said container immediately adjacent said open end;
- a second annular band clampably connectable around a perimeter of said lid;
- a hinge pivotally connecting a common point of said first and second bands;
- latch means for automatically releasably locking said lid after falling to its closed position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.