WO2009114495A1

WO2009114495A1 - Trash and recyclables receptacle

Info

Publication number: WO2009114495A1
Application number: PCT/US2009/036600
Authority: WO
Inventors: Richard Mcduffie; Larry Kahn; Robert Barker; Joseph Spataro; Jaideep Jayaram; Laura Marseglia; Sunny Leong Shiu Lun
Original assignee: Verde Home Products, Inc.
Priority date: 2008-03-13
Filing date: 2009-03-10
Publication date: 2009-09-17
Also published as: TW200951046A

Abstract

A trash receptacle is disclosed having a housing defining a cavity and having a lid openable to create an orifice to access the cavity, with a bin disposed in the cavity and removable there-from through the orifice. The bin has a bottom surface and an upstanding peripheral wall, the wall having two pivotably engaged portions that are relatively separable to ease the removal of a filled liner bag. The peripheral wall terminates at its top in an annular rim, and the bin is adapted to receive the liner bag lining the interior of the peripheral wall and draped outwardly over the annular rim. The lid has downwardly extending annular wall adapted to engage the bin's annular rim to secure the draped-over portion of the liner bag to the annular rim when the lid is in its closed state. The receptacle has a seven-day timer and an indicator associated therewith for alerting when it is the day for disposing of trash.

Description

TRASH AND RECYCLABLES RECEPTACLE

Cross-Reference to Related Applications

[001] This application claims the benefit of US Provisional Application No. 61/036,224, filed on March 13, 2008, US Utility Application No. 12/257, 754 filed on October 24, 2008, and US Provisional Application No. 61/112,417, filed on November 7, 2008, the contents of which are incorporated herein in their entireties by reference.

Background

[002] The present invention is related to receptacles for accumulating various types of trash and/or recyclables and for easing and accommodating the disposition thereof.

[003] Trash receptacles are often lined with a liner bag. When the receptacle is filled, its contents can be removed by removing the filled liner bag. However, in some trash receptacles, particularly when the receptacle is near capacity, removable of the liner bag can be difficult due to the pressure of the contents on the interior walls of the receptacle. Removal of the liner bag can be made even more difficult due to the formation of a low pressure "vacuum" inside the receptacle as the bag is pulled out. As a further complication, in some receptacles, the liner bag can fall into the receptacle as it is being filled, thereby making it later difficult to remove the contents.

Summary

[004] In one aspect, in general, a trash and/or recyclables receptacle includes a housing that defines a cavity and has a lid that is openable to create an orifice to access the cavity. A bin is disposed in the cavity having an open portion at one end. The bin has a number of portions that form an interior region. The portions are engaged with one another permitting the bin to change from a first configuration to a second configuration such that the volume of the interior region of the bin is larger in the second configuration than in the first configuration.

[005] Aspects can include one or more of the following features.

[006] The bin has two wall portions that are pivotably coupled to one another to permit changing from the first configuration to the second configuration of the bin by pivoting the wall portions relative to one another. [007] The second configuration the bin has a relatively greater degree of upward tapering than in the first configuration.

[008] The bin is removable through the orifice formed when the lid is opened.

[009] The lid, when closed, maintains the bin in the first configuration. The lid can include a door that when open while maintaining the lid closed provides access to the interior region of the bin. The lid, when closed, can mate with the bin for securing a liner bag for the bin.

[010] In another aspect, in general, a trash receptacle has a housing defining a cavity and has a lid openable to create an orifice to access the cavity, with a bin disposed in the cavity and removable there-from through the orifice. The bin may have a bottom surface and an upstanding peripheral wall, the wall having two portions which may one or both pivotably engage the bottom surface such that the two portions are relatively separable to ease the removal of a filled liner bag.

[011] The bin may alternatively have a primary bin portion that has a bottom surface and an upstanding primary wall, and a secondary bin portion that has an upstanding secondary wall cooperating with the primary wall to form an upstanding peripheral wall, where the primary and secondary walls may be relatively pivotably engaged such that the two bin portions are relatively separable to ease the removal of a filled liner bag.

[012] The peripheral wall may terminate at its top in an annular rim, and the bin may be adapted to receive the liner bag lining the interior of the peripheral wall and draped outwardly over the annular rim. The lid may have a downwardly extending annular wall adapted to engage the bin's annular rim to secure the draped-over portion of the liner bag to the annular rim when the lid is in its closed state. The receptacle may have a timer and an indicator associated therewith for alerting when it is time for disposing of trash.

[013] In a general aspect, a receptacle includes a housing with a hinged lid, and the lid is rotated to an open position via a foot-actuated lift mechanism to provide access to the interior of the receptacle. The lift mechanism includes a pivot rod fixed to a foot pedal. The pivot rod includes one or more damper devices configured to damp rotational movement of the pivot rod. Upon release of the foot-actuated lift mechanism, the damper devices permit the lid to return slowly to a closed position.

[014] In some aspects, a receptacle is provided that includes a receptacle housing. The housing includes sidewalls arranged in a closed section, and a bottom extending between a lower end of the sidewalls. A lid is pivotably connected to an upper end of one of the sidewalls. The receptacle includes a lift mechanism having an actuation pedal which rotates in concert with a horizontally extending pivot rod. The pivot rod is configured to rotate about a pivot axis with respect to the receptacle housing, a cross bar extends between the pivot rod and a vertical strut, and the strut connects the cross bar to the lid. The lift mechanism is configured to permit movement of the lid between a closed position and an open position by converting the rotational motion of the pedal about the pivot axis into the translational motion of the strut. In addition, the lift mechanism includes a damper configured to damp rotational movement of the pivot rod.

[015] Embodiments of the receptacle may include one or more of the following features: The damper includes a disk including an axial through hole; a closed damper housing including a vacancy sized and shaped to receive the disk therein; and a viscous fluid disposed in the vacancy. In some embodiments, the pivot rod extends through and is fixed within the axial through hole, and the disc is disposed within the vacancy within the damper housing. In some embodiments, the damper housing further includes a base portion, and a cover portion. The base portion has a first opening sized and shaped to receive a first portion of the disk therein; and the cover portion has a second opening sized and shaped to receive a remaining portion of the disk therein. The base portion and cover portion, when assembled together, surround a circumference of the disk and maintain the viscous fluid in contact with at least a circumferential surface of the disk. In some embodiments, the lift mechanism includes more than one damper.

[016] In some aspects, a rotational damper is provided for damping axial rotational motion of a rod. The damper includes a disk including an axial through hole configured to receive the rod therethrough and be fixed thereto, and a damper housing. The damper housing includes a vacancy sized and shaped to receive the disk therein, and openings configured to permit the rod to pass through. The disc is disposed within the vacancy within the damper housing, a viscous fluid is interposed between the damper housing and the disk, and the disk is rotatable with respect to the damper housing.

[017] In some aspects, a trash and/or recyclables receptacle includes a housing defining a cavity and having a lid openable to create an orifice to access said cavity, a foot pedal at least partially recessed relative to a front face of the housing, and a lift mechanism connecting the foot pedal to the lid configured to open the lid upon actuation of the foot pedal. [018] Advantages of one or more aspect can include the following.

[019] Providing a bin with relatively separable wall portions, for example, that increase the volume of the interior region of the bin and/or increase the degree of upward taper when separated, reduces the effort required to remove a filled liner bag from the bin. Furthermore, providing air vents in the bin, for example, in the wall portions, further reduces the effort required by avoiding formation of a vacuum in the bin when removing liner bag.

[020] Among the other advantages, using the damper device on the pivot rod prevents inadvertent injury due to sudden lid closure, and also provides a receptacle that operates quietly. The damper device is of simple and inexpensive construction, and is easily assembled on the lift mechanism.

[021] Numerous other features may be included, not limited to those disclosed and taught in the Detailed Description of a representative embodiments included herein.

Description of Drawings

[022] Many aspects of the invention can be better understood with reference to the following drawings showing the representative embodiments of the accompanying Detailed Description. The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the invention. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

[023] FIG 1 is a perspective of a trash receptacle;

[024] FIG 2 is a front view of the receptacle of FIG 1 ;

[025] FIG 3 is a right side view of the receptacle of FIG 1;

[026] FIG 4 is a top view of the receptacle of FIG 1;

[027] FIG 5 A is an exploded perspective view of the receptacle of FIG 1;

[028] FIG 5B is an exploded right side view of the receptacle of FIG 1;

[029] FIG 6 is a close up perspective view of the top of the receptacle of FIG 1;

[030] FIG 7 is a close up perspective view of the top of the receptacle of FIG 1 with the lid's inner door being opened; [031] FIG 8 A is a close up perspective view of the top of the receptacle of FIG 1 with the lid and inner door being opened;

[032] FIG 8B is a right side view of the top of the receptacle of FIG 1 with the lid and inner door being opened;

[033] FIG 9 is a side cross section of the receptacle of FIG 1;

[034] FIG 10 is a perspective view of the bin of the receptacle of FIG 1;

[035] FIG 11 is a perspective view of the bin of the receptacle of FIG 1 in its split open condition;

[036] FIG 12 is an exploded perspective view of the bin of the receptacle of FIG l;

[037] FIG 13 is a side cross section of the bin of the receptacle of FIG 1;

[038] FIG 14 is a close up view of the control/display panel of the receptacle of FIG l;

[039] FIGs 15A and 15B are side cross section views of the lid of the receptacle; [040] FIG 16 is a perspective cut away view of a pedal operated inner door;

[041] FIGs 17A and 17B are side cross section views of a pedal operated bin restraint; and

[042] FIG 18 is a side view of a second exemplary embodiment of a bin.

[043] FIG 19 is a schematic side sectional view of a switch activated bin restraint.

[044] FIG 20 is a partial perspective view of a bin with a liner bag storage pocket on a front face thereof.

[045] FIG 21 is a front view of a closed receptacle.

[046] FIG 22 is a side cross sectional view of the receptacle of FIG 21.

[047] FIG 23 is a top view of a lower portion of the lift mechanism.

[048] FIG 24 is a partially exploded perspective view of the lower portion of the lift mechanism of FIG 23.

[049] FIG 25 is a side cross sectional view of a second embodiment of a receptacle. [050] FIG 26 is a view of the receptacle of FIG 25 with the housing sidewalls and bin removed to show the lift mechanism.

[051] FIG 27 is a front view of the interior of receptacle of FIG 1 with the bin removed.

[052] FIG 28 is a side sectional view of a fluid damper.

[053] FIG 29 is a sectional view of a portion of the linkages connecting the foot pedal to the inner door.

Detailed Description

[054] A receptacle for trash and/or recyclables according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention is shown in FIGs 1 through 14. As used herein the terms "trash" and "recyclables" should be understood broadly to include, for example, items that are discarded and items that are collected to be reused in one form or another (e.g., by collection and re-manufacture as with plastic bottles, or collection for washing, laundering, etc. in the form that they are collected).

[055] Referring first to FIGs 1 through 5B, there are shown several external views of receptacle 100. The receptacle includes rectilinear housing 102 having carrying handles 104R and 104L on its left and right sides, respectively. On the horizontal top surface of the housing, lid 106 has an inner door 108. As seen in FIGs 6 to 8B, the lid is pivotably connected to the housing at hinge 112 so that it may swing up to open and fully expose the interior of the housing. Pressing the logo plate 113, which additionally serves as a release button for the lid, unlatches the lid and allows it to swing up and open. In some embodiments, the lid swings open under the bias of a torsion spring associated with the lid's hinge.

[056] Also seen in FIGs 6 to 8B, inner door 108 is unlatched and re-latched by a typical "push-push" latching mechanism. In some embodiments, the door is biased open about the hinge 114 coupling it to the lid by a torsion spring (not show) and held closed and latched by the latching mechanism. Slight downward push near the forward portion of the door causes unlatching of the mechanism and allows the spring to lift the door up and back approximately ninety angular degrees to gain limited access into the housing, such as for depositing trash there-through. Pushing the lid back to its closed state against the bias of the spring closes the door and re-latches the latching mechanism. [057] Referring to FIGs 15A and 15B, in some embodiments the lid 106 includes a number of alignment tabs 310, for example two tabs with one on each side of the receptacle. The tabs mate with recesses in the housing providing stability to the lid when closed. Each recess includes a spring 320 at its base which is compressed when the tab 310 mates with the recess as shown in FIG 15 A. When the lid is released, for example, when the lid is unlatched by pressing the release button 113, the lid is forced at least partially upward by the spring as shown in FIG 15B. This may allow a user to insert his or her fingers in a gap formed between the lid and the housing to further open the lid.

[058] In some embodiments, the lid or the inner door, or both, may be opened by one or more typical foot pedal actuators for hands-free opening. The pedal may be partially or preferably fully recessed relative to the front face of the housing. The lid or inner door may also be equipped with a replaceable odor reducing system, such as an odor-absorbing charcoal pad.

[059] Referring to FIG 16, in some embodiments in which a foot pedal actuator 400 used to open the inner door, one or more linkages 410 connect a pedal lever 420 with the inner door 108. When the lid 106 is closed (as shown in FIG 16), depressing the foot pedal causes the pedal lever to rise, thereby pushing the linkage upward. The linkage is coupled to the inner door such that when the linkage is pushed upward, the inner door opens (as shown in FIG 16). When the lid 106 is opened and inner door in the lid remains closed, the distance between the point 414 at which the linkage 410 is coupled to the inner door and the point 412 at which it is coupled to the pedal lever increases. To accommodate this increase the linkage 410 in made up of two telescoping sections that can be pulled apart as the lid 106 is opened and then contract again when the lid is closed.

[060] Referring now to FIGs 9 to 13, disposed within the housing's interior is a collection bin 116, which is optionally removable from the housing, for example, by pulling it upwardly through the top of the housing when lid 106 is opened. The bin includes a base pan 118 having a bottom surface 122 and an upstanding periphery 124. In some embodiments, the base pan forms a watertight container for capturing spilled liquid without requiring that the bin as whole be watertight. First and second peripheral wall portions 126 A and 126B are received in the base's upstanding periphery and extend upwardly there-from to define an annular open top rim 128 and a hollow interior chamber 132. When the bin is properly positioned in housing 102, annular open top rim 128 and interior chamber 132 are disposed directly below inner door 108 so that trash dropped though the opened doorway will fall into the chamber. [061] Preferably, the bin has a trash- storing capacity of approximately 10 gallons, and is approximately twelve inches wide by seventeen inches deep by twenty-eight inches tall.

[062] The bin is adapted to receive a disposable liner bag (not shown), which lines interior chamber 132 and has an upper open end that is draped outwardly over annular rim 128. When the bin is disposed in the housing, the annular top rim sits vertically above the orifice created by open lid 106, as seen best in FIG 9. The orifice and rim cooperate to form an annular gap 142 for receiving the draped- over portion of the liner bag. The gap of the disclosed embodiment is one and one- half to two inches wide all the way around, and preferably at least one-half of an inch wide, to allow the user's fingers top push the draped-over portion of the liner bag down and there-into, no matter how long the draped over portion may be. This prevents the unsightly appearance of having the end of the bag extend outside the housing when the lid is closed.

[063] Lid 106 has a downwardly extending annular wall 144 adapted to engage annular gap 142 and annular rim 128 to force the draped-over end 302 of the liner bag into the gap and to secure the draped-over portion to the annular rim when the lid is in its closed state.

[064] Referring to FIG 20, in some embodiments the bin 116 includes a liner bag storage pocket 702 formed on an upper, outward- facing portion of the periphery 124. In some embodiments, the storage pocket 702 is located on the surface of the periphery 124 which faces the front face of the housing 102. The storage pocket 702 is sized and shaped to receive and store several folded liner bags (not shown). For example, the storage pocket 702 is fixed to the bin surface along its side edges 703, 703 and bottom edge 705. The upper edge 704 is not fixed to the bin surface and is spaced apart from the bin surface to provide access to the interior space of the storage pocket 702. The location and arrangement of the storage pocket 702 provides the user with convenient access to a replacement liner bag when a full bag has been removed from the bin 116.

[065] Peripheral wall portions 126 A and 126B of bin 116 both pivotably engage the base pan at hinges 146 A and 146B, respectively, such that the wall portions may each be swung outwardly and are relatively separable by spreading open rim 128 and splitting it apart while the bin remains in the receptacle.

[066] In the illustrated embodiment, the bin 116 is sectioned so that peripheral wall portions 126A and 126B correspond generally to front and rear portions. However, in other embodiments, the bin 116 may be sectioned so that the peripheral wall portions 126 A and 126B correspond generally to opposing side portions, such as left and right side portions.

[067] In FIG 9, the bin 116 is shown with the wall portions together, with a space between the bin 116 and the housing 102 being available for the expansion of the bin. The bin 116 in its expanded state is shown in FIG 11 without the housing. The upwardly tapering expansion (i.e., progressively widening toward the top) of interior chamber 132 can allow the liner bag to be more easily removed, for example, when it has been over-stuffed with trash. In some embodiments, the positioning of the hinges allows gravity to cause the wall portions to drop back together after the bag is removed. In some embodiments, the wall portions are identical to each other so that only one mold is required to make both portions. In other embodiments, the wall portions have different shapes and use different molds. Extensions from each portion towards the other cover and avoid a gap during the spreading open. In some embodiments, the engagement of the lid 106 with the bin 116 inhibits the wall portions of the bin from spreading, and when the lid 106 is opened disengaging the wall portions, gravity and/or pressure from trash or recyclables that have been collected in a liner bag in the bin causes the walls to separate. In some embodiments, the wall portions may be biased, for example by a spring mechanism, to open when the lid 106 is opened, or may be biased to oppose pressure from the contents avoiding excessive spreading. In some embodiments, closing of the lid 106 optionally causes the walls to come together, for example, if they have been spread somewhat from the pressure of a partially- filled bin.

[068] The peripheral wall portions cooperate with the base pan to form vents 148 to allow air to enter the lower portion of interior chamber 132 as the stuffed bag is being removed, to further ease its removal by eliminating the creation of a vacuum. The vents have air intake openings 152 exterior of the peripheral wall portions and air exhaust openings 154 disposed within the hollow interior chamber and below the air intake opening, so that liquids inadvertently spilled into the bin are retained within the base pan and not allowed to flow into housing 102.

[069] In some embodiments, the receptacle includes a disengagable restraint mechanism that prevents the bin from being removed from the receptacle. For example, the user of the receptacle 100 can leave the mechanism engaged when removing a filled liner bag from the receptable to prevent the bin 116 from being pulled out along with the bag. In some embodiments, a foot pedal is used to disengage the mechanism. In some embodiments in which depressing a foot pedal 400 opens the inner door, depressing the pedal 400 also disengages the restraint mechanism allowing the bin 116 to be removed. Referring to FIG 17A, one form of restraint mechanism is a hook 510 that pivots and disengages a slot 530 in the base of the bin when the pedal 400 is depressed. Referring to FIG 17B, the hook 520 engages the slot 530 when the pedal 400 is released. In some embodiments, the restraint mechanism uses a magnet that is disengaged to permit the bin to be removed. For example, the bin has a first fixed magnet in its base, and a second magnet is attached to the main body such that depressing the pedal causes the second magnet to separate from the first magnet, thereby reducing the force restraining the bin. In some embodiments, the restraint system uses one or more elastic members to engage corresponding detents formed in the outer bin surface, whereby the bin can be removed by overcoming the elastic force. For example, spring loaded pins biased to extend in a direction normal to the bin side surface can be provided to engage the detents.

[070] Referring to FIG 19, another form of restraint mechanism includes a hook 610 that engages the slot 530 through a translating motion of the hook 610 rather than a pivoting motion. In this form, the hook 610 can be actuated by foot using a switch located near the bottom of the receptacle 100 (not shown), or by hand using a switch 620 located near the top of the receptacle 100. To achieve manual activation, a linkage 605 is provided that connects the hook 610 to the switch 620 positioned near the top of the receptacle 100. In some embodiments, the linkage 605 is configured to pivot about a pivot point 615 located between the hook 610 and switch 620, whereby actuation of the switch 620 in one direction results is motion of the hook 610 in the opposed direction. For example, an inward push of the switch 610 would result in withdrawal of the hook 610 from the slot 530.

[071] Wall portions 126A and 126B are removable from base pan 118 to ease cleaning, and base pan 118 may be made of a high temperature material to allow dish-washer cleaning.

[072] Referring to FIG 14, receptacle 100 further includes an electrical system having a timer and an indicator associated therewith for alerting when the contents of the receptacle should be emptied. Control/Display panel 156 allows the user to operate and observe the electronic functions of the system. The timer is preferably a seven-day timer programmable to set a "trash day", such as when the garbage disposal service is scheduled or when the user would normally bring trash to the dump. LCD display 164 normally shows the current time and day of the week. An indicator alert icon becomes visible and blinks on the LCD display and an audible signal is produced when it is the "trash day". The current day/time may be set using the "current day/time" selector switch 162 and the alert time may be pre-set using the alert time selector switch 160. In other embodiments, other criteria for generating the alert, for example, according to a time since the last emptying of the receptacle and/or according to a number of times the inner door 108 has been opened.

[073] The electrical system is preferably batter-operated with the LCD display including a low battery icon that becomes visible and/or blinks when the battery voltage drops below a pre-determined level.

[074] Referring to FIG 18, there is shown an alternative embodiment of bin for use in a receptacle. The bin 216 has a primary bin portion 226A that has a bottom surface 222 and an upstanding primary wall 224A, and a secondary bin portion 226B that has an upstanding secondary wall 224B cooperating with the primary wall to form an upstanding peripheral wall, where the primary and secondary walls are be relatively pivotably engaged at hinge 246 such that the two bin portions are relatively separable to ease the removal of a filled liner bag. That is, in this embodiment there are two wall portions which separate relative to one another, with one of the wall portions moving with respect to the housing 102 and the other remaining fixed. In other embodiments, a base pan is not necessary used, for example, with two wall portions being engaged such that they together form a base portion.

[075] In other embodiments, the wall portions are not necessarily pivotably attached to one another. Other approaches to engaging the wall portions can be used while providing the capability that the wall portions can move relative to one another to enlarge the volume of the inner chamber 132 and/or increase a degree of taper of the shape of the inner chamber. For example, a wall portion may be slideably coupled.

[076] Referring now to Figs. 27-29, a damping mechanism for providing damped closure of the inner door 108 of the lid 116 is described for receptacle 100. The damping mechanism includes a fluid damper 450 that is connected to the linkages 410 to control the rate at which the inner door 108 closes, once the foot pedal has bee released.

[077] The fluid damper 450 is mounted to an inner wall surface of the receptacle housing 102 using a bracket 460 (FIG 28). In some embodiments, the fluid damper 450 is mounted to the housing rear, inner wall surface at a location above the mid-height of the housing 102, for example, adjacent the upper end of the housing 102. In some embodiments, the fluid damper is an air damper. However, other fluids within the fluid damper 450 may be employed.

[078] The fluid damper 450 includes a fluid damper housing 456, and a piston 452 disposed in the fluid damper housing 456. The bracket 460 includes an opening 462, and the fluid damper 450 is positioned on the bracket 460 so that a damper arm 454 that extends from the piston 452 passes through the opening 462. An end of the damper arm 454 is connected to the linkages 410 through a horizontally-extending cross bar 432 (FIG 27).

[079] As previously described, each linkage 410 is made up of two telescoping sections 416, 418, and a linkage 410 extends generally vertically along each side of the receptacle 100 adjacent to a rear wall of the housing 200. In particular, each linkage 410 is formed of cylindrical tubular members and includes an upper link 416 and a lower link 418. The upper link 416 has a larger diameter than the lower link 418, and the upper end of the lower link 418 is received within the hollow interior space of a lower end of the upper link 416, and the upper link 416 slides axially along the lower link 418 (FIG 29).

[080] As seen in FIG 27, the cross bar 432 extends between the two linkages 410. Each end 436 of the cross bar 432 is provided with a through hole 434 sized to received the lower link 418 therethrough. In use, the respective upper ends of the lower links 418 extend through the through holes 434, and a stop member 430 is fixed on the lower link 418 to maintain the cross bar 432 at a desired minimum height on the linkages 410. Once the cross bar 432 is mounted between the linkages 410, the upper end of the lower link 418 is inserted into the interior space of the upper link 416, whereby the cross bar 432 and upper link 416 are free to slide along the upper end of the lower link 418 to the extent permitted by the stop member 430.

[081] When the foot pedal 400 is depressed, and the linkage 410 is pushed upward, the inner door 108 is driven to the open position shown in FIG 16. During upward movement of the linkages 410, the lower link 418 moves vertically upward within the upper link 116 until the stop member 430 abuts the cross bar 432 and lower end of the upper link 416. At that time, the upper link 416 and cross bar 432 are also driven upward, along with the lower link 418, due to the presence of the stop member 430.

[082] As the cross bar 432 rises along with the linkages 410, the piston 452 is driven upward within the fluid cylinder housing 456 through the corresponding movement of the damper arm 454. In some embodiments, the fluid damper 450 is configured so that there is no resistance to the upward movement of the piston 452 within the fluid cylinder housing 456.

[083] When the foot pedal is released, the lower linkage 418 is drawn downward due to its connection 412 to the foot pedal lever 420. In addition, the inner door 108 begins to return to a closed position through force of gravity. As the inner door 108 closes, the cross bar 432 lowers, pulling down on the piston 452 within the fluid damper 450. However, the rate of return of the inner door 108 is slowed due to the damping action of the fluid damper 450. In particular, the fluid damper 450 is configured to provide resistance to the downward motion of the piston 452 within the fluid cylinder housing 456.

[084] In some embodiments, the resistance characteristics of the fluid damper 450 are adjustable. In some embodiments, the damping mechanism can be manually disconnected from the linkages 410 so that no damping of door closure is provided.

[085] Referring to FIGs. 21 and 22, another mechanism for providing damped closure of the lid is described with respect to a receptacle 200. The receptacle 200 includes a receptacle housing 12 having a hinged lid 14. In some embodiments, the receptacle housing 12 is a generally vertically elongate box that is configured to receive a bin or liner 24 therein for holding items to be stored. The housing 12 includes sidewalls 2, 4, 6, 8 arranged to form a closed section, and a bottom 20 extending between the lower ends of the sidewalls 2, 4, 6, 8. In the illustrated embodiment, the housing 12 is rectilinear in horizontal section, but it is well within the scope of the invention to form housing 12 having other horizontal sectional shapes, including oval and circular. The upper end of the housing 12 is open, and the lid 14 is pivotably attached to an upper end of the rear sidewall 4 by conventional means such as a hinge 16.

[086] The lid 14 can be manually opened and closed. In addition, the receptacle 200 includes a lift mechanism 26 that permits the lid 14 to be rotated between closed position (shown in solid lines in FIG 22) and an open position (shown in dashed lines in FIG 22) through actuation of a pedal 22. In the illustrated embodiment, pedal 22 is a foot actuated pedal disposed in a recess 18 formed in the lower portion of the front sidewall 2 of the housing 12. In other embodiments, pedal 22 may be a hand actuated pedal mounted at an upper end of the housing 12 (not shown).

[087] The lift mechanism 26 is most clearly seen in FIG 26, which illustrates the receptacle 200 with the sidewalls 2, 4, 6, 8 removed. The lift mechanism 26 includes the foot pedal 22 in the form of an elongate, generally rectangular plate. The foot pedal 22 extends horizontally and in parallel with the front sidewall 2 of the receptacle, and also extends between a pair of generally parallel cross bars 28, 28. A cross bar 28 is fixed at a front end thereof to each outer end of the foot pedal 22 and extends toward the rear sidewall 4. A pivot rod 30 extends between, and is rigidly fixed to, a respective mid portion of each cross bar 28. The pivot rod 30 is pivotably supported on the bottom 20 of the housing 12 via one or more dampers 40, described below. A rear end of each cross bar 28 is pivotably connected to a vertically extending strut 32. In some embodiments, a pin 34 connects the cross bar 28 to the strut 32. The strut 32 extends between the cross bar 28, disposed near a lower end of the housing, to the lid 14, disposed at the upper end of the housing. The strut 32 is pivotably connected to the lid 14, for example, through a pin 36.

[088] The pivot rod 30 includes one or more dampers 40 configured to damp the speed of the rotational movement of the pivot rod 40. Upon release of the foot- actuated lift mechanism, the dampers 40 permit the lid 14 to slowly return to a closed position. In addition, the dampers 40 serve as a pivot fulcrum for the foot pedal 22.

[089] Referring now to FIGs. 23 and 24, each damper 40 includes a disk 60 supported within vacancy 44 formed in a damper housing 42. The disk 60 is a solid cylinder and includes a through-hole 62 formed along its longitudinal axis. The through-hole 62 is sized to receive the pivot rod 30, and the disk 60 is mounted on the pivot rod 30 so that the disk 60 and pivot rod 30 move as a single unit. This is accomplished through conventional means, such as a press fit between the disk 60 and pivot rod 30 or use of a key (not shown) to connect the disk 60 to the pivot rod 30.

[090] The disk 60 may also include a circumferentially-extending groove 66 formed in a circumferential surface 64 thereof. A viscous fluid is disposed within the vacancy 44 along with the disk 60 so that the viscous fluid is interposed between the damper housing 42 and the disk 60. The groove 66 receives the viscous fluid and provides a channel through which the viscous fluid can be distributed about the disk 60 within the damper housing 42 during motion of the disc 60. The amount of damping provided by the damper 40 can be adjusted by adjusting the viscosity of the fluid disposed within the damper housing 42. In the disclosed embodiment, the fluid is highly viscous so as to provide a very slow rate of closure of lid 14. [091] The damper housing 42 is fixed to the bottom 20 of the receptacle housing 12, and the disk 60 and pivot rod 30 rotate together within the damper housing 42. The damper housing 42 includes a base portion 50 and a cover portion 46. The base portion 50 has a first opening 52 sized and shaped to receive a first portion of the disk 60 therein, and the cover portion 46 has a second opening 48 sized and shaped to receive a remaining portion of the disk therein. In the illustrated embodiment, the base portion 50 houses the lower half of the disk 60, and the cover portion 46 houses the upper half of the disk 60, and the openings 48, 52 within the base and cover portions are arcuate to correspond to the circumferential shape of the disk 60. In other embodiments (not shown), the openings 48, 52 within the base and cover portions 46, 60 are sufficiently dimensioned to receive the disk 60 but are not shaped to correspond to the circumferential shape of the disk.

[092] The cover portion 46 is fixed to the base portion by conventional means. For example, the cover portion 46 may include holes 56a, and the base portion may include holes 56b, and screws 54 may be inserted in holes 56a, 56b to secure the cover portion 46 to the base portion 50. The base portion 50 and cover portion 46, when assembled together, surround a circumference and axial ends of the disk 60 and maintain the viscous fluid in contact with at least a circumferential surface of the disk 60. The base portion 50 and cover portion 46 further have detents 47, 57 formed their respective mating surfaces. When the base portion 50 and cover portion 46 are assembled, the detents 47, 57 are aligned to form openings that permit the pivot rod 30 to pass through the damper housing 42.

[093] In addition, the damper housing 42 retains the damper 40 at a fixed distance above the bottom of the housing 20, providing a fulcrum about which the pivot rod 30, and thus the foot pedal 22, rotates.

[094] In FIGs. 25 and 26, an alternative embodiment of a receptacle is illustrated. In this embodiment the housing 200' is provided with an alternative lid structure 14' and housing structure 12'.

[095] Various embodiments are tailored in their form for residential applications. However, non-residential applications such as commercial applications are addressed by these and/or other embodiments in which the form is adapted to meet the requirements of those applications.

[096] In summary, the invention may be embodied as a trash receptacle having a housing defining a cavity and having a lid openable to create an orifice to access the cavity, with a bin disposed in the cavity and removable there-from through the orifice. The bin may have a bottom surface and an upstanding peripheral wall, the wall having two portions which may one or both pivotably engage the bottom surface such that the two portions are relatively separable.

[097] The invention may be embodied as a trash receptacle having a housing defining a cavity and having a lid movable into an open state to create an orifice to access the cavity and movable into a closed state for closing the orifice, with a bin disposed in the cavity and removable there-from through the orifice. The bin may have a bottom surface and an upstanding peripheral wall terminating at its top in an annular rim, and the bin may be adapted to receive a liner bag lining the interior of the peripheral wall and draped outwardly over the annular rim. The lid may have a downwardly extending annular wall adapted to engage the bin's annular rim to secure the draped-over portion of the liner bag to the annular rim when the lid is in its closed state.

[098] The invention may be embodied as a trash receptacle having a housing defining a cavity and having a lid openable to create an orifice to access the cavity, with a bin disposed in the cavity and removable there-from through the orifice. The bin may have a bottom surface and an upstanding peripheral wall terminating at its top in an annular rim, and the bin may be adapted to receive a liner bag lining the interior of the peripheral wall and draped outwardly over the annular rim. The orifice and peripheral rim may cooperate to form an annular gap for receiving the draped-over portion of the liner bag. The gap may be predominantly at least one-half inch in gap width to allow the insertion of a user's fingers to push the draped-over portion of the liner bag into the gap.

[099] The invention may be embodied as a trash receptacle having a housing defining a cavity and having a lid movable into an open state to create an orifice to access the cavity and movable into a closed state for closing the orifice, with a bin disposed in the cavity and removable there-from through the orifice. The bin may have a bottom surface and an upstanding peripheral wall terminating at its top in an annular rim, and the bin may be adapted to receive a liner bag lining the interior of the peripheral wall and draped outwardly over the annular rim. The orifice and peripheral rim may cooperate to form an annular gap for receiving the draped-over portion of the liner bag, and the lid may have a downwardly extending annular wall adapted to engage the annular gap to force the draped-over portion of the liner bag into the gap when the lid is in its closed state.

[0100] The invention may be embodied as a trash receptacle having a housing defining a cavity and having a lid movable into an open state to create an orifice to access the cavity and movable into a closed state for closing the orifice, with a bin disposed in the cavity and removable there-from through the orifice. The bin may have a bottom surface and an upstanding peripheral wall terminating at its top in an annular rim, and the bin may be adapted to receive a liner bag lining the interior of the peripheral wall and draped outwardly over the annular rim. The orifice and peripheral rim may cooperate to form an annular gap for receiving the draped-over portion of the liner bag, and the lid may have a downwardly extending annular wall adapted to engage the annular gap and the annular rim to force the draped-over portion of the liner bag into the gap and to secure the draped-over portion to the annular rim when the lid is in its closed state.

[0100] The invention may be embodied as a trash bin having a base pan portion having a bottom surface and an upstanding periphery, a peripheral wall portion received in the base's upstanding periphery and extending upwardly there-from to define an open-topped hollow interior chamber. The peripheral wall portion may have first and second portions which may one or both pivotably engage the base pan such that the first and second portions are relatively separable.

[0101] The invention may be embodied as a trash bin having a base pan portion having a bottom surface and an upstanding periphery, a peripheral wall portion received in the base's upstanding periphery and extending upwardly there-from to define an open-topped hollow interior chamber. The peripheral wall portion may have first and second portions each connected to the base portion at and pivotable about a hinge such that the first and second portions are relatively separable.

[0102] The invention may be embodied as a trash bin having a base pan portion having a bottom surface and an upstanding periphery, a peripheral wall portion received in the base's upstanding periphery and extending upwardly there-from to define an open-topped hollow interior chamber. The peripheral wall portion may cooperate with the base pan to form a vent having an air intake opening exterior of the peripheral wall portion and an air exhaust opening within the hollow interior chamber and below the air intake opening.

[0103] The invention may be embodied as a trash and/or recyclables receptacle having a housing defining a cavity and having a lid openable to create an orifice to access said cavity and a bin disposed in said cavity having an open portion at one end. The bin has a plurality of portions forming an interior region, the portions being engaged with one another permitting the bin to change from a first configuration to a second configuration such that the volume of the interior region of the bin is larger in the second configuration than in the first configuration. The plurality of portions of the bin may include two wall portions that are pivotably coupled to one another to permit changing from the first configuration to the second configuration of the bin by pivoting the wall portions relative to one another. In the second configuration, the bin has a relatively greater degree of upward tapering than in the first configuration. The bin is removable through the orifice formed when the lid is opened. The receptacle may further include a disengagable restraint mechanism for holding the bin in the housing. In some embodiments, the lid when closed maintains the bin in the first configuration. In some embodiments, the lid includes a door that when open while maintaining the lid closed provides access to the interior region of the bin. In some embodiments, the lid when closed mates with the bin for securing a liner bag for the bin.

[0104] The invention may be embodied as a trash receptacle having a timer and an indicator associated therewith for alerting when it is the time for disposing of trash contained therein, or the invention may be embodied as a trash receptacle having a seven-day timer and an indicator associated therewith for alerting when it is the day for disposing of trash contained therein.

[0105] The invention may be embodied as a trash bin having a primary bin portion having a bottom surface and an upstanding primary wall, and a secondary bin portion having an upstanding secondary wall cooperating with the primary wall to form an upstanding peripheral wall, wherein the primary and secondary walls are relatively pivotably engaged such that the two bin portions are relatively separable.

[0106] While the invention has been shown and described with reference to a specific exemplary embodiment, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, and that the invention should therefore only be limited according to the following claims, including all equivalent interpretation to which they are entitled.

[0107] It is to be understood that the foregoing description is intended to illustrate and not to limit the scope of the invention, which is defined by the scope of the appended claims. Other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A trash and/or recyclables receptacle comprising: a housing defining a cavity and having a lid openable to create an orifice to access said cavity; a bin disposed in said cavity and removable there-from through said orifice; wherein said bin has a bottom portion and an upstanding peripheral wall, said wall having first and second wall portions which one or both pivotably engage said bottom portion such that said first and second wall portions are relatively separable.

2. The receptacle of Claim 1 wherein said bottom portion comprises a base pan portion comprising a bottom surface and a peripheral rim extending upwardly therefrom; wherein said upstanding peripheral wall is received in said peripheral rim and extends upwardly there-from to define an open-topped hollow interior chamber; and wherein said first and second wall portions engage said base pan portion at and pivotably about a hinge such that said first and second wall portions are relatively separable there-about.

3. The receptacle of Claim 1 wherein said bottom portion comprises a base pan portion comprising a bottom surface and an upstanding periphery; wherein said upstanding peripheral wall is received in said upstanding periphery and extends upwardly there-from to define an open-topped hollow interior chamber; and wherein said upstanding peripheral wall cooperates with said base pan portion to form a vent having an air intake opening exterior of said upstanding peripheral wall and an air exhaust opening within said hollow interior chamber and below said air intake opening.

4. The receptacle of Claim 1 wherein said bin further comprises: a primary bin portion comprising a bottom surface and a primary portion of said upstanding peripheral wall; and a secondary bin portion comprising a secondary portion of said upstanding peripheral wall cooperating with said primary bin portion to form said upstanding peripheral wall; and wherein said primary and secondary bin portions are relatively pivotably engaged such that said primary and secondary bin portions are relatively separable.

5. The receptacle of Claim 1 wherein said upstanding peripheral wall defines an open-topped hollow interior chamber terminating at its top in an annular rim, and said receptacle further comprises: a liner bag received in and lining said interior chamber and having a draped- over portion extending outwardly over and downwardly around said annular rim; wherein said orifice and annular rim cooperate to form an annular gap for receiving said draped-over portion.

6. The receptacle of Claim 5 wherein said annular gap is at least partially approximately one-half of an inch in gap width.

7. The receptacle of Claim 6 wherein said lid has a downwardly extending annular wall adapted to engage said annular gap to force said draped-over portion into said annular gap when said lid is in its closed state.

8. A trash and/or recycling receptacle comprising: a housing defining a cavity and having a lid movable into an open state to create an orifice to access said cavity and movable into a closed state for closing said orifice; a bin disposed in said cavity and removable there-from through said orifice, wherein said bin has a bottom surface and an upstanding peripheral wall terminating at its top in an annular rim and defining a hollow interior chamber; a liner bag received in said bin and lining said interior chamber and having a draped-over portion extending outwardly over and downwardly around said annular rim; wherein said lid has a downwardly extending annular wall adapted to engage said annular rim to secure said draped-over portion to said annular rim when said lid is in its closed state.

9. The receptacle of Claim 8 wherein said orifice and annular rim cooperate to form an annular gap for receiving said draped-over portion.

10. The receptacle of Claim 9 wherein said gap said annular gap is at least partially approximately one -half of an inch in gap width.

11. The receptacle of Claim 10 wherein said downwardly extending annular wall is adapted to engage said annular gap to force said draped-over portion into said annular gap when said lid is in its closed state.

12. A trash and/or recyclables receptacle comprising: a housing defining a cavity and having a lid openable to create an orifice to access said cavity; a bin disposed in said cavity having an open portion at one end; wherein said bin has a plurality of portions forming an interior region, the portions being engaged with one another permitting the bin to change from a first configuration to a second configuration such that the volume of the interior region of the bin is larger in the second configuration than in the first configuration.

13. The receptacle of Claim 12 wherein the plurality of portions of the bin includes two wall portions that are pivotably coupled to one another to permit changing from the first configuration to the second configuration of the bin by pivoting the wall portions relative to one another.

14. The receptacle of Claim 12 wherein in the second configuration the bin has a relatively greater degree of upward tapering than in the first configuration.

15. The receptacle of Claim 12 wherein the bin is removable through the orifice formed when the lid is opened.

16. The receptacle of Claim 15 wherein the receptacle includes a disengagable restraint mechanism for holding the bin in the housing.

17. The receptacle of Claim 12 wherein the lid when closed maintains the bin in the first configuration.

18. The receptacle of Claim 17 wherein the lid includes a door that when open while maintaining the lid closed provides access to the interior region of the bin.

19. The receptacle of Claim 17 wherein the lid when closed mates with the bin for securing a liner bag for the bin.

20. A receptacle for receiving and storing trash and/or recyclables, the receptacle comprising: a timer having means to select a time for disposing of the stored trash; and an indicator associated with said timer for alerting when said time occurs.

21. The receptacle of Claim 20 wherein said timer is a seven-day timer and said indicator alerts when a day has occurred for disposing of the stored trash.

22. The receptacle of Claim 21 wherein said indicator is a visual indicator.

23. The receptacle of Claim 22 wherein said indicator is a light-emitting device.

24. The receptacle of Claim 21 wherein said indicator is an audible indicator.

25. The receptacle of Claim 24 wherein said indicator is an electronic noise- emitting device.

26. The receptacle of Claim 20 wherein said timer is a one-month timer and said indicator alerts when a day has occurred for the stored trash.

27. The receptacle of Claim 20 wherein said timer is a one-day timer and said indicator alerts when an hour or minute has occurred for disposing of the stored trash.

28. The receptacle of Claim 20 wherein said indicator is taken from the group including a visual indicator and an audible indicator.

29. A receptacle comprising: a receptacle housing including sidewalls arranged in a closed section, and a bottom extending between a lower end of the sidewalls; and a lid pivotably connected to an upper end of one of the sidewalls; and a lift mechanism including an actuation pedal which rotates in concert with a horizontally extending pivot rod, the pivot rod configured to rotate about a pivot axis with respect to the receptacle housing, a damper configured to damp rotational movement of the pivot rod, a cross bar extending between the pivot rod and a vertical strut, the strut connecting the cross bar to the lid, wherein the lift mechanism is configured to permit movement of the lid between a closed position and an open position by converting the rotational motion of the pedal about the pivot axis into the translational motion of the strut.

30. The receptacle of Claim 29 wherein the damper comprises a disk including an axial through hole; a closed damper housing including a vacancy sized and shaped to receive the disk therein; and a viscous fluid disposed in the vacancy, wherein the pivot rod extends through and is fixed within the axial through hole, and the disc is disposed within the vacancy within the damper housing.

31. The receptacle of Claim 29, wherein the damper housing further includes: a base portion, the base portion including a first opening sized and shaped to receive a first portion of the disk therein; and a cover portion, , the cover portion including a second opening sized and shaped to receive a remaining portion of the disk therein, and wherein the base portion and cover portion, when assembled together, surround a circumference of the disk and maintain the viscous fluid in contact with at least a circumferential surface of the disk.

32. The receptacle of Claim 29 wherein the lift mechanism includes more than one damper.

33. A rotational damper for damping axial rotational motion of a rod, the damper comprising: a damper housing having openings configured to permit the rod to pass through; and a disk including an axial through hole configured to receive the rod therethrough and to be fixed thereto, the disk positioned within a vacancy of the housing, and a viscous fluid disposed within the vacancy; wherein the disc is rotatable with respect to the damper housing.

34. A trash and/or recyclables receptacle comprising: a housing defining a cavity and having a lid openable to create an orifice to access said cavity; a foot pedal at least partially recessed relative to a front face of the housing; and a lift mechanism connecting the foot pedal to the lid configured to open the lid upon actuation of the foot pedal.