Patent Application
20140263347
This application claims no benefit of prior provisional patent applications
Nonapplicable
Nonapplicable
The following is a tabulation of some prior art that presently appears relevant:
This application relates to trash receptacles and the means to alleviate or reduce the vacuum that is created when a full flexible trash bag liner is removed from the receptacle.
A problem occurs when removing a full trash bag liner in that a vacuum is created between the bottom of the trash receptacle and the full trash bag liner as it is being removed. A considerable amount of effort is required to overcome the vacuum in order to remove the trash bag liner. Additionally, there is also a considerable amount of air trapped between the trash receptacle and the newly inserted empty liner which causes light garbage to remain near the top of the trash receptacle until heavier garbage can be placed in the liner. There also exists a need that has not been addressed by prior art, for a vacuum released vent that closes to prevent odor or rodents from entering the trash receptacle. The present invention meets this need by providing several closeable vent shoes. The shoes are located on each side of the receptacle which will allow excess air inside the receptacle in order to break the vacuum. The vent shoes are attached via linkages that connect beneath the trash can. These linkages are attached to a contiguous foot pedal and foot pedal arm. The vent shoes can either slide on molded rails or can be hinged to open and close outward and inward respectively. Other versions can include square or elliptical receptacles with vent shoes that form to the shape of the receptacle. In addition, the foot pedal used in the embodiment aids in keeping the trash receptacle planted while the flexible liner is being removed.
Several types of vented trash receptacles have been proposed—for example U.S. Pat. No. 7,712,623 (2010) to Wentz, U.S. Pat. No. 6,594,876 (2003) to Stastny, U.S. Pat. No. 5,388,717 (1995) to Le Vasseur, U.S. Pat. No. 6,736,281 (2004) to Joseph, U.S. Pat. No. 5,803,303 (1998) to Timm, and US patent application 2012/0217,242 (2012) to Dyer et al. shows a trash receptacle vent system that has permanently open vents. These vents can either extend along the longitudinal axis of the trash can or open at the bottom. None of the prior art having adequately addressed the above-stated problem of preventing odors form exiting. Also, U.S. Pat. No. 6,471,221 (2002) to McGarry has a foot cavity which will allow the trash can to remain in place but fails to address the issue of preventing a vacuum while the trash liner is being removed. U.S. Pat. No. 6,015,063 (2000) to Poliquin, U.S. Pat. No. 8,074,823 (2011) to Steidinger, III and US patent applications 2012/0312828 (2012) to Herdon and 2011/0253724 (2011) to Kastner require the installation of vent tubing but fail to properly address the issue of odor. In addition, inserting any object between a receptacle wall and a full flexible liner can possibly cause damage to the liner and also become cumbersome to operate. Finally, U.S. Pat. No. 5,265,755 (1993) to Mc Arthur, Jr. et al. provides a closeable vent which prevents odors and liquids from escaping but does not hold the receptacle in place when removing a large full trash liner. Therefore a vented trash receptacle with a mechanically operated foot pedal and closeable vents is the desired solution.
In accordance with one embodiment a vented trash receptacle comprises of a normal size garbage can with a lid. At the bottom of the trash receptacle is a foot pedal that when pressed, opens a plurality of vent shoes on either side of the receptacle. The foot pedal can be depressed when placing an empty bag inside the receptacle and pressed when removing a full liner. Various alternatives can be produced. The shape of the trash can and the operation of the vent shoes can be altered. The vent shoes can either slide up or down to open or open outward away from the trash can. In either situation the operations of the vent shoes will be controlled by the foot pedal.
One embodiment of the enclosure is illustrated in
I currently contemplate the bottom of the embodiment be premolded to fit the foot pedal arm (30) and both horizontal arm linkages (22) with holes (28) also prefabricated in the manner shown but other ways of attachment are suitable. Additionally I also contemplate this embodiment to be rectangle in shape but find other shapes like oval to be acceptable.
The manner of using the vented trash receptacle to remove trash bag liners without creating suction and to aid in holding the trash can in place while the refuse liner is being removed. Stepping on the foot pedal (14) creates a downward force at the point of impact and causes the foot pedal arm (30) to rotate around the perpendicular pins (26) which are slotted into each hole (28). The downward force creates an upward motion on the opposite end of the foot pedal arm (30). Both horizontal arm linkages (22) connect at the foot pedal arm (30) at the non foot pedal end and the preferred embodiment is connected via a hinge that can snap into place. Upward pressure from the foot pedal arm (30) causes the connecting horizontal arm linkages (22) to move up in unison and causes the opposite end to move down. The downward motion creates a downward force at the base of the vertical arm linkage (16). This downward motion causes the attached vent shoe (18) to move down exposing the vent. Air is then allowed to be sucked into the trash receptacle as the refuse liner (32) is being pulled out. The trash can is held firmly in place by the downward force on the foot pedal (14). The vent shoes (18) are guided to the open and closed position by guide rails (20)
The embodiment listed above is the preferred embodiment but should not be limited to household garbage cans. An alternative embodiment is used in the industrial arena and lawn and leaf collection. A large size version similar to a 55 gallon trash receptacle can be be made using the same idea. By venting a large size trash can in this manner will allow consumers to use industrial size trash liners without having concern for difficulty removing a fully loaded flexible liner due to a large vacuum that is created.
Although the description shown above is detailed with many specificities, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention but as merely providing illustrations of some of the presently preferred embodiments of this invention. For example the connecting linkage can be placed in a manner so as to allow the vent shoes (18) to slide up to the open position. The vent shoe (20) can be operating in such a manner as to allow the shoes to open outward. The trash receptacle (10) and any parts heretofore can be made of any durable material used to construct items of similar capacity. The trash receptacle can also me molded in any size or shape.
