US 8,474,591 B1Granted

Garbage chute apparatus

OwnerDonald D. Coplesinventor

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Abstract

The garbage chute apparatus provides a chute of about 12 inches in diameter that is smooth with the rounded bend relatively gradual so that garbage items do no lodge within the chute or become trapped by any rough or uneven surfaces. The deodorizer within the chute further provides odor protection. The exhaust fan also prevents odor buildup. The coupler removably and sealably fits to the chute vertical leg via a hook and loop band, so that the coupling between the chute and coupler is leak proof with regard to odors and materials. The smooth bell-shaped coupler has no surfaces aberrations so that garbage items are not lodged, but pass straight through. The coupler opens widely at the bottom to allow for removable attachment to a plurality of garbage containers, with little regard to container size and shape. The elastic band seals the coupler to a given container.

Claims5

Dependent claims

A garbage chute apparatus, comprising, in combination:

a chute having a chute diameter of about 12 inches, the chute comprising a horizontal leg connected to a vertical leg by a rounded bend;
an outer flange disposed on the horizontal leg;
an inner flange disposed in parallel with the outer flange on the horizontal leg, the inner flange placed against an interior of an existing wall, the outer flange placed against an exterior of the existing wall, said inner and outer flanges sealing the horizontal leg within the wall;
a round door disposed on the inner flange, the door attached via an inwardly pivoting hinge;
an exhaust fan affixed to the horizontal leg, the exhaust fan positioned exteriorly to the outer flange;
a fan cover mounted atop the exhaust fan;
a mountable switch in communication with the exhaust fan;
a flexible smooth bell-shaped coupler removably coupling the chute vertical leg to an existing garbage container, the coupler having a top spaced apart from a bottom;
a hook and loop band around the coupler top;
an elastic band around the coupler bottom, the hook and loop band and the elastic band sealably fitting the coupler to the chute and to the garbage container.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.