Patent Application
20120285952
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a trash receptacle and more particularly to trash receptacles which may be connected together to prevent them from tipping over in windy conditions.
2. Description of the Related Art
Trash receptacles such as residential garbage cans, whether they are generally cylindrical, square or rectangular in shape tend to blow over in windy conditions when they are left at curb side for collection. When the garbage cans are blown over in windy conditions, the garbage or trash therein may spill therefrom and create an unsightly mess. Further, upon tipping over in windy conditions, the garbage cans may roll down the street.
This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key aspects or essential aspects of the claimed subject matter. Moreover, this Summary is not intended for use as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.
A trash receptacle such as a garbage can is disclosed which enables it to be connected to other like garbage cans to create a stable array of garbage cans which will not be blown over or away in windy conditions.
In one embodiment of the invention, the garbage can is generally cylindrical with a slightly tapered body portion to enable the garbage can to be nested within other garbage cans for shipment or storage. The garbage can of this embodiment includes a body portion having a closed bottom and an upstanding wall portion with inner and outer surfaces, and an open upper end. A first handle is secured to the outer surface of the wall portion and which has a generally vertically disposed pocket formed therein. A second handle, identical to the first handle, Is secured to the outer surface of the wall portion with the centerline of the second handle being radially spaced 60 degrees from the centerline of the first handle. A third handle, identical to the first and second handles, is secured to the outer surface of the wall portion with the centerline of the third handle being radially spaced 60 degrees from the centerline of the second handle.
A first connector member is secured to the outer surface of the wall portion with the centerline of the first connector member being radially spaced 60 degrees from the centerline of the third handle. A second connector member is secured to the outer surface of the wall portion with the centerline of the second connector member being radially spaced 60 degrees from the centerline of the first connector member. A third connector member is secured to the outer surface of the wall portion with the centerline of the third connector member being radially spaced 60 degrees from the centerline of the second connector member.
Each of the connector members has a downwardly extending connector portion which may be inserted downwardly into the pocket of a handle. Two or more of the garbage cans may be connected together by inserting the connector portion of one of the connector members of one garbage can into one of the pockets of a handle of another garbage can to form a stable array of garbage cans which will not tip over in windy conditions.
In a second embodiment of the invention, the garbage can is square or rectangular and which has first, second, third and fourth wall portions. In the second embodiment, a handle, such as described in the first embodiment, is secured to the outer surface of the first wall portion. A connector member, such as described in the first embodiment, is secured to the outer surface of the second wall portion. A handle is secured to the outer surface of the third wall portion and a connector member is secured to the outer surface of the fourth wall portion.
Any number of the garbage cans of the second embodiment may be connected together in the same manner as in the first embodiment to form a stable array of garbage cans which will not tip over in windy conditions.
It is therefore a principle object of the invention to provide a trash receptacle such as a garbage can which may be connected to another garbage can or cans to form a stable array of garbage cans which will not be blown over in windy conditions.
A further object of the invention is to provide a garbage can of the type described which has a generally cylindrical configuration, a square configuration or a rectangular configuration.
These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art.
Non-limiting and non-exhaustive embodiments of the present invention are described with reference to the following figures, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the various views unless otherwise specified.
Embodiments are described more fully below with reference to the accompanying figures, which form a part hereof and show, by way of illustration, specific exemplary embodiments. These embodiments are disclosed in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. However, embodiments may be implemented in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense in that the scope of the present invention is defined only by the appended claims.
In the first embodiment of the invention, as depicted in
Preferably, the garbage can 10 will be formed of a plastic material so that the handles and connector members thereof may be integrally molded with the garbage can 10. A first handle 18 is secured to the outer surface of wall portion 14 below the upper end thereof. Handle 18 includes a vertically disposed pocket 20 which extends therethrough between the upper and lower ends thereof. A second handle 18′, which is identical to handle 18, is secured to the outer surface of wall portion 14 below the upper end thereof with the vertical centerline thereof being radially spaced 60 degrees from the centerline of handle 18. Handle 18′ includes a pocket 20′. A third handle 18″, which is identical to handles 18 and 18′, is secured to the outer surface of wall portion 14 below the upper end thereof with the vertical centerline thereof being radially spaced 60 degrees from the centerline of handle 18′. Handle 18″ includes a pocket 20″.
The numeral 22 refers to a first connector member which is secured to the outer surface of wall portion 14 with the vertical centerline thereof being radially spaced 60 degrees from handle 18″. Connector member 22 includes a downwardly projecting connector portion 24 which is spaced outwardly of the outer surface of wall portion 14. A second connector member 22′, which is identical to connector member 22, is secured to the outer surface of wall portion 14 below the upper end thereof with the vertical centerline thereof being radially spaced 60 degrees from the vertical centerline of connector member 22. Connector member 22′ includes a connector portion 24′. A third connector member 22″, which is identical to connector members 22 and 22′, is secured to the outer surface of wall portion 14 below the upper end thereof with the vertical centerline thereof being radially spaced 60 degrees from the vertical centerline of connector member 22′. Connector member 22″ includes a connector portion 24″. Each of the connector portions 24, 24′ and 26″ is adapted to be selectively vertically received by one of the pockets 20, 20′ and 20″. The garbage cans 10 may be secured together as seen in
A second embodiment of the invention is illustrated in
A first handle 40 is centrally secured to the outer surface of wall portion 30 below the upper end thereof. Handle 40 includes a vertically disposed pocket 42 which extends therethrough between the upper and lower ends thereof. A first connector member 44 is centrally secured to the outer surface of wall portion 32 below the upper end thereof. Connector member 44 includes a downwardly projecting connector portion 46 which is spaced outwardly of the outer surface of wall portion 32.
A second handle 40′ is centrally secured to the outer surface of wall portion 34 below the upper end thereof. Handle 40′ includes a pocket 42′ which is identical to pocket 42 in handle 40. A second connector member 44′ is centrally secured to the outer surface of wall portion 36 below the upper end thereof. Connector member 44′ includes a connector portion 46′ which is identical to connector portion 46 of connector member 44. Each of the connector portions 46 and 46′ are adapted to be vertically received by one of the pockets 42 and 42′.
Two of the garbage cans 26 may be connected together by inserting the connector portion 46 or 46′ of connector members 44 or 44′ downwardly through one of the pockets 42 or 42′ which will create a stable array of garbage cans. Any number of the garbage cans 26 may be connected together to form even more stable arrays of garbage cans. For example,
Although the invention has been described in language that is specific to certain structures and methodological steps, it is to be understood that the invention defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific structures and/or steps described. Rather, the specific aspects and steps are described as forms of implementing the claimed invention. Since many embodiments of the invention can be practiced without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, the invention resides in the claims hereinafter appended.
