US 8,453,564 B1 · Container crusher

Abstract

An apparatus that crushes beverage cans and similar containers to reduce waste volume in recycling bins comprises two (2) metal platens held when closed by a hinging mechanism that allows one (1) of the platens to be moved away from the other. The surfaces of the platens which face each other are provided with a textured or ribbed surface to prevent the object to be crushed from slipping out from between the closing platens. A first platen is mounted onto a pair of mounting brackets and a second platen is attached onto a pair of moving links. A pair of parallel operating arms is interconnected by a handle and operates the connected hinging mechanism. The hinging mechanism provides a toggle action which generates an adequate force between the platens to crush the containers. When the handle and the hinging mechanism are returned to the starting position, the opening between the platens allows the crushed object to fall out into the recycling bin.

Claims17

Dependent claims

A container crusher for manually crushing containers, said container crusher comprising:

first and second mounting brackets;
a fixed platen fastened to said first and second mounting brackets via a first set of clip angles;
a pair of upper links attached to said first and second mounting brackets via a first and a second pivot, respectively;
a pair of curvilinear lower links each attached to said first and second mounting brackets, respectively;
a moving platen attached to said lower links via a second set of clip angles;
a pair of handle bars each having an integral toggle link pivotally attached to one of said upper links via a third and a fourth pivot, respectively, and to one of said lower links via a fifth and a sixth pivot, respectively;
said pair of curvilinear lower links each attached to said first and second mounting brackets via a seventh and an eighth pivot, respectively;
and,
a handle attached to said handle bars;
wherein movement of said handle between upward and downward positions locates said moving platen away and toward said fixed platen respectively.

7 more elements

A container crusher for manually crushing containers, said container crusher comprising:

first and second mounting brackets maintained at a fixed position;
a fixed platen fastened to said first and second mounting brackets via a first set of clip angles;
a pair of upper links pivotally attached to said first and second mounting brackets via a first and a second pivot, respectively;
a pair of curvilinear lower links each attached to said first and second mounting brackets, respectively;
a moving platen attached to said lower links via a second set of clip angles;
a pair of handle bars each having an integral toggle link pivotally attached to one of said upper links via a third pivot and a fourth pivot, respectively, and to one of said lower links via a fifth pivot and a sixth pivot, respectively;
said pair of curvilinear lower links each attached to said first and second mounting brackets via a seventh pivot and an eighth pivot, respectively;
and,
a handle attached to said handle bars;
wherein movement of said handle between upward and downward positions locates said moving platen away and toward said fixed platen respectively.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Container crusher

Life of this patent

Container crusher

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims17