Exemplary embodiments pertain to the art of garbage cans and, more particularly, to a garbage bin support member that captures and retains a garbage bin.
Trash cans or garbage bins, whichever you prefer, are ubiquitous in modern society. On pick up day in many suburban neighborhoods, streets are lined with wheeled garbage cans awaiting pickup. Many people will put their garbage can out a night before being pick up. That is, in some cases, pick up can come early and it is more efficient to put cans out in the evening the night before. As such, garbage cans may be exposed to various weather conditions including rain, snow, and wind. When exposed to wind, a garbage can may be blown over spilling contents all over the street. Toppling is particularly prevalent with wheeled garbage cans. Wheeled garbage cans typically include a narrow wheel base. The narrow wheel base makes the garbage can unstable.
Disclosed is a garbage bin support system including a base member having a substantially planar horizontal surface and a hook assembly including a hook support projecting outwardly from the substantially planar horizontal surface and a hook element pivotally connected to the hook support. The hook element is configured and disposed to engage an axle of a garbage bin to prevent tipping from the base member.
The following descriptions should not be considered limiting in any way. With reference to the accompanying drawings, like elements are numbered alike:
A detailed description of one or more embodiments of the disclosed apparatus and method are presented herein by way of exemplification and not limitation with reference to the Figures.
A garbage bin support system, in accordance with a non-limiting example, is indicated at 10 in
Referring to
Base member 30 may include a ballast receiving zone 54 or hollow interior. Ballast receiving zone 54 may be filed with sand, pebbles, water, or some other form of ballast that enhances an overall stability of base member 30. Ballast receiving zone 54 includes a fill opening 57 that may project upwardly from substantially planar horizontal surface 32. Fill opening 57 may be provided with a cap 59.
Garbage bin support system 10 includes a hook assembly 70 that selectively engages with axle 20 to retain garbage bin 16. In accordance with a non-limiting example, hook assembly 70 includes a hook support 72 and a hook element 78. Hook support 72 may include a first support member 79 and a second support member 80. Reference will follow to
In accordance with a non-limiting example, hook element 78 takes the form of a beam 94 that is mounted between first support member 79 and second support member 80 and selectively rotates about pivot support 88. Beam 94 includes a first end 98, an opposing second end 100, and a support section 102 that that receives pivot support 88 and defines a pivot axis 104 that is substantially perpendicular to beam 94. First end 98 defines a pedal or foot actuator 107 and second end 100 supports a pin element 110. Pin element 110 may rotate relative to second end 100. Beam 94 includes a travel limiter 113 that limits a rotational path of pin element 110. A biasing element 115, such as a spring, urges pin element 110 toward travel limiter 113. A biasing member 120 is arranged about pivot axis 104 and urges second end 100 or beam toward substantially planar surface 32.
With this arrangement, pin element 110 may deflect toward rear side 38 to promote insertion of second end 100 into recess 22. Once inserted, biasing element 115 urges pin element 110 to rotate back to travel limiter 113 and hook axle 20. Once hooked, garbage can 16 is secured to base member 30 and be supported so as to prevent toppling due to external forces such as wind and the like. In this manner, a homeowner will be less likely to be forced to clean up trash spilled from the garbage can. Further, while described as being filled with a ballast material, the base member may be rested upon a supporting surface or secured to the supporting surface with mechanical fasteners.
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, element components, and/or groups thereof.
While the invention has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment or embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the claims.
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