Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Various types of manual compactors are known in the prior art. However, what is needed is a manual compactor that provides an easy mechanism allowing an individual to manually push down on garbage located within the compactor, an air vent for quick air pressure equalization between the inside and outside of the compactor, and a number of serrated blades designed to help shred the garbage within the compactor.
The present invention relates to a manual compactor, and more particularly, to a manual compactor that provides features and characteristics above and beyond existing manual compactors.
The general purpose of the present manual compactor, described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a manual compactor which has many novel features that results in a manual compactor which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by prior art, either alone or in combination thereof.
A manual compactor is disclosed that includes an air ventilation system and also a lid that is capable of being forced downward onto an amount of trash. The manual compactor generally includes a trash can on a wheel base with a lid attached to the trash can. The air ventilation system includes an internal aerated ring with a series of vent holes, with the ring being attached to a pair of internal air channels that open to the outside air. The lid is capable of either being mounted on top of the trash can or in the alternative, can be shoved downward onto an amount of trash. Serrated blades mounted on the underside of the lid are used to cut up and shred the trash disposed within the compactor while it is being compacted.
Thus has been broadly outlined the more important features of the present manual compactor so that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated.
With reference now to the drawings, and in particular
Referring to
A disk-shaped connector base 30 is attached to the upper surface 22 of the wheel base 20. The connector base 30 has a plurality of external threads 32 disposed thereon.
Trash can 35 is cylindrical in nature and has an outer side surface 37, a bottom surface 39, and an upper perimeter 40. The bottom surface 39 has a cylindrical indentation 41 therein. The indentation 41 has a plurality of internal threads 43 that are threadably engageable to the external threads 32 located on the connector base 30. The trash can 35 also has a pair of air channels 45, 46. Each air channel 45, 46 is located between the outer side surface 37 and an inner side surface 48. The air channels 26 and 27 are diametrically opposed to each other. The air channels 46, 46 are connected to an aerated ring 50 which is attached to the bottom surface 39 and the inner side surface 48 of the trash can 35. The aerated ring 50 has a plurality of spaced-apart holes 52 therein, which allow air to flow freely between the inside of the trash can 35, the aerated ring 50, and the air channels 45, 46.
Each of the air channels 45, 46 has a vent hole 54 therein. Each vent hole 54 is covered by a plug 36 disposed adjacent thereto on the outer side surface 37 of the trash can 35. Each vent hole 54 and its associated plug 56 are located on the outer side surface 37 of the trash can 35. Adjacent to each plug 56 is a pair of indents 58, 60. Each of the indents 58, 60 is located on the outer side surface 37 of the trash can 35, allowing the plug to be temporarily placed against an indent 58, 60 instead of covering the respective vent hole 54.
The trash can 35 also has a pair of side handles 62, 64 located on opposite sides of the outer side surface 37.
The manual compactor 10 also has a lid 66 that covers the trash can 35. The lid 66 has an upper surface 68 and a lower surface 70. A top handle 72 is attached to the upper surface 48 of the lid 66. An outer ring 74 engages the upper perimeter 40 of the trash can 35. A pair of slide locks 76, 78 is disposed on the outer ring 74, preferably on opposite sides thereof from each other. The lid 66 has two slots 80, 82 therein, which are also preferably disposed on opposite side of the lid 66 to align the slots 80, 82 with the slide locks 76, 78. Each slide lock 76, 78 engages the respective slot 80, 82 in a locked position to hold the lid 66 in place atop the trash can 35 and in an alternate unlocked position as shown in
Lid 66 also has an outer perimeter 67 and an a rubber seal 84 is continuously disposed along the outer perimeter 67 to temporarily seal the lid and the trash can 35 together when the lid is placed atop the trash can 35.
To remove lid 66 to place trash 86 within the trash can 35 or to alternately push down the lid 66, a user pulls the slide locks 76, 78 in alternate inward and outward directions, respectively. The lower surface 70 of lid 66 has a plurality of serrated blades 88 that each has a plurality of teeth 90. The teeth 90 assist the user in cutting up and shredding trash 86 disposed underneath the lid 66 when the lid 66 is pushed down within the trash can 35 to compact the trash 86 disposed therein.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
3863563 | Popeil | Feb 1975 | A |
4263843 | Hammersmith et al. | Apr 1981 | A |
4331074 | Behman | May 1982 | A |
4427125 | Tuitt | Jan 1984 | A |
4593615 | Kehl | Jun 1986 | A |
4649813 | Kehl | Mar 1987 | A |
4991500 | Knapp | Feb 1991 | A |
5115736 | Rodolico et al. | May 1992 | A |
5179893 | Richardson | Jan 1993 | A |
6910412 | Ko | Jun 2005 | B2 |
8234977 | Armstrong | Aug 2012 | B2 |