CA2627207A1 - A locking net for garbage containers to prevent animal entry - Google Patents

Abstract

This application describes a garbage or trash can lid securing assembly to secure a garbage can lid against removal by animals such as raccoons, the garbage can assembly comprising: a flexible net fitted with a securing strap enclosing a bungee cord tightened by an adjustable draw cord closure mechanism to fit the net securely to a variety of different trash receptacles.

Description

A locking net for garbage containers to prevent animal entry.
3 claims, 3 drawing sheets.
References Cited eferenced B
U.S. Patent Documents 2636639 Apr-53 FTey 3363924 Jan-68 Reniig 3817563 Jun-74 McGlothlin 3893725 Jul-75 Coulter et al.
3980202 Se -76 Monyak et al.
4150464 A r-79 Tracy 4241846 Dec-80 M h 4413851 Nov-83 Ritter 4545501 Oct-85 DeFord 4819827 Apr-89 DiSesa 5078295 Jan-92 Grant 5144725 Sep-92 Krauss 5297692 Mar-94 Kronmiller 5438737 Aug-95 Anscher 5991985 Nov-99 Galbreath 6041960 Mar-00 Leal 6062412 May-00 Jacobsmeyer, Jr.
6230920 May-01 Porter 6390522 May-02 Rucker 6902081 Jun-08 Walker SCOPE OF THE INVENTION

An apparatus for securing trash receptacles such a garbage or trash can against entry by animals.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Animals, such as raccoons and ravens, can gain entry to trash receptacles by various means of opening the locking mechanism, if any, on trash receptacle lids Bungee cords and other stretchable, elastic, and strong cords are an obvious means of preventing such access, and many homeowners develop ad-hoc methods of securing trash receptacle lids with such cords. These are ultimately frustrated by the intelligence of the animal intruder. However, when the bungee cord is used in concert with a draw cord closure to secure a fitted net to the lid of the trash receptacle, even intelligent animal pests are unable to gain entry to the trash receptacle. Further, the net and cord and cord-securing strap are constructed of materials resistant to being nipped apart by animal parts such as teeth, bird beaks, and claws.

This assembly also dispenses with the hazard associated with physical injury of hooks, buckles, springs and bungee cords being fitted under tension to secure the lid. For examples, fitting a bare elastic bungee cord across the top of a trash receptacle to hook onto the handles of garbage cans and to draw the handles to a latched orientation, for example, to draw the handles together across the top of the lid, can give rise to a significant hazard for physical injury to human and animal alike. In this case, upon removal of the elastic cords, the elastic cords can cause injury to the user owing to the metal hooks being under tension and therefore being liable to snap back uncontrollably. Buckles can also pinch and cause friction injuries.

This assembly differs also differs from animal prevention systems integrated into the trash receptacle itself and thus forms a completely separate category of devices. Indeed the evolution of such closure systems seems to have been a compromise between efficacy of the closure device and safety considerations.
The present Invention suffers from no such safety risk. Further, belts, buckles and other fasteners are often ineffective in fastening thermoplastics and other modern materials owing to low coefficients of friction, friction being the operating principle of these buckling devices.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS:
Figures 1 and 2 describe the Invention.

In Fig. 1, a side view of the invention, the net No. 1 is fitted with a safety strap collar No. 2. This collar both protects the bungee cord No. 3 and enables it to act as a partial sphincter for the net around the top of the trash receptacle by tightening of the draw cord closure No. 4. Note that it is not necessary to have the sphincter completely run the perimeter of the net.

In Fig. 2, a close view of the both ends of the closing cord a cord fixed at fixed point No. 1 is led through the perimeter collar No.2 to a secured draw cord closure No.3, enabling securing the partial sphincter without risks associated with hook and buckles under tension.

Fig. 3 presents a top view of the net No. 1 stretched over the trash receptacle lid.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION:

To at least partially overcome the disadvantages of previously patented devices meant to thwart animal entry into trash receptacles, the present invention utilizes a flexible net fitted with a securing strap enclosing a bungee cord or other stretchable cord itself secured by an adjustable draw cord closure mechanism to fit the net securely to a variety of trash receptacles. The net is fitted over the top of the trash receptacle and the bungee cord fitted within a collar around the perimeter of the net is drawn tight around the top rim of the garbage can with the adjustable draw cord closure or closures.

An objective of the present invention is to provide a trash receptacle lid securing system to secure the lid against removal by animals such as raccoons.

Another objective is to provide a kit for retrofitting a trash receptacle.

This Invention differs from Prior Art in a number of ways: it is not integral to the container, it can be fitted to a number of sizes of containers, it need not be fastened to the container, and it does not use buckles, hooks, springs or other mechanisms with potential for injury to the user.

Concerning the aspect of not being integral to the container: various U.S.
patents for devices meant to thwart animal entry involve the use of locking mechanisms that are integral to the receptacle itself, as in U.S. Patent 4819827 (DiSesa) and U.S. Patent 6390522 (Rucker). An integral design can either be designed in or retrofitted, but, the system cannot be removed reversibly without alteration to the receptacle itself. The net assembly under application can, in contrast, be fitted and removed from the container reversibly and without alteration to the container itself.

Concerning the aspect of not being integral to the container: the net assembly under application need not be fastened to the container in contrast to those systems exemplified by U.S. Patent 6041960 (Leal). This also allows the net assembly to be fitted to a range of containers.

Concerning the aspect not using buckles, hooks, springs or other mechanisms with potential for injury to the users: the net assembly under application differs from Prior Art in not presenting potential for injury for users. In contrast, Prior Art in large part does. U.S. Patent 2636639 (Frey) describes an assembly involving springs and hooks fixing the lid to the can with considerable potential for harm to the user. U.S. Patent 3363924 (Remig) describes a similar assembly with two hooks at the end of rubber straps, again with the potential for injury.
Springs and hooks are also a feature of U.S. Patent 3817653 (McGlothlin), U.S.
Patent 4241846 (Murphy), U.S. Patent 4413851, US. Patent 4545501 (DeFord) and US. Patent 5078295 (Grant) . Buckles constitute the fastening device of U.S. Patent 3893725 (Coulter et. al), as do U.S. Patents 3980202 (Monyak et al.), U.S. Patent 4150464 (Tracy), US. Patent 5144725 (Krauss), U.S. Patent 5297692 (Schrecongost), U.S. Patent 5438737 (Anscher), U.S. Patent 5991985 (Galbreath), U.S. Patent 6062412 (Jacobsmeyer, Jr.), U.S. Patent 6230920 (Porter), U.S. Patent 6390522, and U.S. Patent 6902081 (Walker).

The trend in many of these devices described in Prior Art is to devise safety features to prevent accidental disengagement, revealing the underlying potential for injury in the design of the locking closure device described in these patents listed.

Claims (3)

1. The locking net device described in this Application prevents animal entry into trash receptacles.

2. The locking net device described in this Application fits a wide range of trash receptacles yet can be reversibly removed without alteration to the trash receptacle.

3. This locking net device avoids risk of physical injury through avoidance of springs, buckles, and hooks.