Trash container door opening apparatus

Abstract

An apparatus for opening a trash container door flap, is designed to be rapidly and easily retrofittable onto trash containers having pivoting doors, particularly of the type found in limited-service or fast-food restaurants. The apparatus includes a novel means of attachment to the door flap from which a hand lever and/or a line to a foot pedal may be attached. The attachment means to the door may consist of a clamp that fits over an edge of the door in the space between the door and the cabinet, without interfering with the rotation of the door. A vertical lever may be attached to the clamp or an extension from it so that the door may be easily pivoted with one hand without contacting it. A line such as a cable may also be attached to the clamp or extension, and then down to a freestanding foot pedal that may be used to open the door without the use of ones hands. In a configuration with both the lever and the foot pedal attached, the door may be opened with one hand using the lever, no hands using the pedal, or as before by pushing inward on the door with ones hands or a tray. The apparatus may also be installed or removed in seconds due to the nature of the novel attachment to the door flap.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.