The present invention is directed to a trash receptacle. More particularly, the present invention is directed to a trash receptacle having a frame inside a housing, wherein a user can remove trash bag without lifting the trash bag above the trash receptacle.
The present invention features a trash receptacle apparatus for allowing a user to pull a trash bag out of the trash receptacle apparatus without having to lift the trash bag above the trash receptacle apparatus.
Any feature or combination of features described herein are included within the scope of the present invention provided that the features included in any such combination are not mutually inconsistent as will be apparent from the context, this specification, and the knowledge of one of ordinary skill in the art. Additional advantages and aspects of the present invention are apparent in the following detailed description and claims.
Referring now to
The trash receptacle apparatus 100 comprises a frame having a first vertical pole 310 having a first end 311 and a second end 312, a second vertical pole 320 having a first end 321 and a second end 322, a third side pole 330 having a first end 331 and a second end 332, and a fourth vertical pole 340 having a first end 341 and a second end 342. The vertical poles are oriented vertically with respect to the ground surface. A first top bar 410 connects the first end 311 of the first vertical pole 310 to the first end 321 of the second vertical pole 320. A second top bar 420 connects the first end of the second vertical pole to the first end of the third side pole. A third top bar 430 connects the first end of the third side pole to the first end of the fourth vertical pole. A fourth top bar 440 connects the first end of the fourth vertical pole to the first end of the first vertical pole.
The frame is mounted atop a bottom panel 117 having a top surface 118 and a bottom surface. The second end 312 of the first vertical pole 310, the second end 322 of the second vertical pole 320, the second end 332 of the third vertical pole 330, and the second end 332 of the fourth vertical pole 340 are all attached to the top surface 118 of the bottom panel 117.
The trash receptacle apparatus 100 further comprises a housing having a first side panel 111, a second side panel 112, a front panel 113, and a back panel 114. A top panel 115 is removably attached to the housing. The front panel 113 pivotally attached to the first side panel 111 via an attachment means (e.g., a hinge 210). The front panel 113 can move between an open position and a closed position. In the open position, the front panel 113 does not come in contact with the second side panel 112. In the closed position, the front panel 113 comes in contact with the second side panel 112. In some embodiments, a latch 105 is disposed on the front panel 113 to allow the front panel 113 to be secured in the closed position.
In some embodiments, the hinge 210 is disposed on the first side panel 111 and the latch 105 attached to the second side panel 112. This allows for the front panel 113 to be opened widely and allows enough space for the frame to be moved in and out of the housing.
The housing is for temporarily enclosing the frame. Disposed on the bottom surface of the bottom panel 117 is a plurality of wheels 220. The wheels 220 allow the frame to be moved into or out of the housing. For example, when the front panel 113 is in the open position, a user can wheel the frame in or out of the housing.
In some embodiments, the top of an open trash bag can be folded over the first top pole 410, second top pole 420, third top pole 430, and fourth top pole 440 of the frame.
In some embodiments, the frame further comprises a first roller pole 610 having a first end, a second end, and a middle portion. In some embodiments, the first end of the first roller pole 610 is attached to the fourth top bar 440 and the second end of the first roller pole 610 is attached to the bottom panel 117. In some embodiments, the frame further comprises a second roller pole 620 having a first end, a second end, and a middle portion. In some embodiments, the first end of the second roller pole 620 is attached to the fourth top bar 440 and the second end of the second roller pole 620 is attached to the bottom panel 117.
In some embodiments, the frame further comprises a third roller pole 630 having a first end, a second end, and a middle portion. In some embodiments, the first end of the third roller pole 630 is attached to the second top bar 420 and the second end of the third roller pole 630 is attached to the bottom panel 117. In some embodiments, the frame further comprises a fourth roller pole 640 having a first end, a second end, and a middle portion. In some embodiments, the first end of the fourth roller pole 640 is attached to the second top bar 420 and the second end of the fourth roller pole 640 is attached to the bottom panel 117.
Disposed in the middle portion of the first roller pole 610 is a rolling component. Disposed in the middle portion of the second roller pole 620 is a rolling component. Disposed in the middle portion of the third roller pole 630 is a rolling component. Disposed in the middle portion of the fourth roller pole 640 is a rolling component. The rolling components help to allow the frame move in or out of the housing.
In some embodiments, the frame is temporarily secured to the housing via magnets 650. In some embodiments, the magnets 650 are disposed on the rolling component.
In some embodiments, the top panel 115 is pivotally attached to the first side panel 111 and/or second side panel 112 via a hinge mechanism.
The trash receptacle apparatus 100 may be constructed from a variety of materials. For example, in some embodiments, the trash receptacle apparatus 100 is constructed from a material comprising a metal, a plastic, a rubber, the like, or a combination thereof.
In some embodiments, a plurality of flaps are attached to the first top pole 410, second top pole 420, third top pole 430, and/or fourth top pole 440. In some embodiments, the flaps can be pushed down into the receptacle apparatus 100 from a center point.
In some embodiments, the wheels 220 are standard caster-type wheels well known to one of ordinary skill in the art.
The disclosures of the following U.S. patents are incorporated in their entirety by reference herein: U.S. Pat. No. 4,923,080; U.S. Pat. No. 5,901,872; U.S. Pat. No. 5,361,978; U.S. Pat. No. 3,817,448; U.S. Pat. No. 3,893,615; U.S. Pat. No. 5,984,134; U.S. Pat. No. 5,076,458; U.S. Pat. No. 5,172,630; U.S. Pat. No. 3,831,959.
Various modifications of the invention, in addition to those described herein, will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing description. Such modifications are also intended to fall within the scope of the appended claims. Each reference cited in the present application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
Although there has been shown and described the preferred embodiment of the present invention, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications may be made thereto which do not exceed the scope of the appended claims. Therefore, the scope of the invention is only to be limited by the following claims.
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