US2690274A

US2690274A - Receptacle

Info

Publication number: US2690274A
Application number: US320710A
Authority: US
Inventors: Gladys M Thurston
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1952-11-15
Filing date: 1952-11-15
Publication date: 1954-09-28
Anticipated expiration: 1971-09-28

Description

Sept. 28, 1954 c. M. THl JRSTON RECEPTACLE Filed NOV. 15, 1952 INVENTOR. 62143. 5 ff. M01257 0/1 r Illvllhk' Patented Sept. 28, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RECEPTACLE Gladys M. Thurston, Freeport, N. Y. Application November 15, 1952, Serial No. 320,710

1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to receptacles.

It is a principal object of the present invention to provide a receptacle which may be readily and easily opened at the bottom thereof, thus eliminating the necessity of inverting the receptacle in order to empty the contents therefrom.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a receptacle having a hinged bottom which is normally spring urged to an open position but which is retained in a closed position by a spring catch, the spring catch being releasable with a minimum of effort on the part of the housewife or homeowner.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a receptacle of the above type wherein the spring catch is adapted to be released by the foot while the arms hold the receptacle above the ground.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide a receptacle bearing the above objects in mind which is of simple construction, inexpensive to manufacture, has a minimum number of parts, is compact, durable, pleasing in appearance, easy to operate and eflicient in use.

For other objects and for a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a receptacle embodying the features of the present invention, shown partly broken away to show the interior construction thereof;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view thereof showing the hinged bottom in an open position and shown partly in section to show the interior construction thereof and Fig. 3 is a fragmentary, perspective view of a modified form of the present invention, shown partly broken away to show the interior construction thereof. I

Referring more in detail to the drawing, in which corresponding reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, there is shown in Figs. 1 and 2 a receptacle, referred to collectively as III, and including a substantially cylindrical body I I of metal or other suitable material open at both top and bottom, substantially as illustrated.

A pair of handle grips I2 and I3 having outwardly extending portions I4 and I5, respectively, are secured at these outwardly extending portions to the upper peripheral edge of body II by means of welding or other suitable means, the handles I2 and I3 being disposed in diametrically 2 opposite positions permitting the receptacle II to be conveniently carried thereby in each hand to thedisposal area (see Fig. 2).

In order to permit the contents of receptacle II) to be conveniently emptied without the necessity of inverting the same, a substantially circular closure I6 is pivotally connected across its top surface to the inner wall of body I l by means of hinge elements I1 and IB mounted upon a common pintle I9, the hinge elements I1 and I8 being secured to their respective parts by means of screws 20, substantially as illustrated. A compression spring 2I sleeves the pintle l9 intermediate its ends, the ends 22 and 23 thereof expanding against the hinge elements I1 and I8, respectively, whereby to normally urge the closure I6 into the open position shown in Fig. 2.

As a means of retaining the closure I6 in a closed position until it is desired to empty the contents of the receptacle I0, there is provided a vertical spring catch element 24 secured to the inner wall of the body II at the bottom thereof by means of rivets 25, substantially as illustrated, the bottom free end of element 24' being bent outwardly and then inwardly for a purpose to be referred to directly.

It will be noted that the element 24 is disposed diametrically opposite from the hinge elements I1 and I8.

A complementary spring catch element 26 is secured to the upper surface of closure I6 by means of rivets 21 and is integrally formed with a tongue 28 extending upwardly therefrom at substantially right angles thereto, the end of tongue 28 being enlarged and adapted to resiliently engage the bent portion of element 24 adjacent the body II, substantially as illustrated in Fig. 1 whereby to retain the closure in a closed position against the bottom peripheral edge of body II.

As a convenient means of releasing the catch 2 element 26 from element 24 to thereby permit the closure I6 to swing to the open position shown in Fig. 2 under the tension in spring 2 I, there is provided in the closure I6 an outwardly extending, integrally formed tongue 29 adapted to be engaged by the sole of shoe 30 without releasing the hands from grips I2 and I3.

In operation, the receptacle I0 is used to store garbage and other refuse or waste material in the usual manner, the closure l6 resting on the floor or other supporting surface and being firmly retained closed under all conditions of movement by the

spring catch elements

24 and 26 in the manner indicated above.

When the receptacle ID has become full, the same is carried by means of handle grips H and I2 to the disposal area, Where the foot 30 is then applied to tongue 29 Without releasing the hand grips, thus disengaging the element 26 from element 24 and permitting the spring 2| to swing the closure l6 to an open position, the contents of the receptacle emptying out in an obvious manner. The receptacle is then lowered upon the closure I6 until the element 26 is again in resilient engagement with element 24 and the receptacle is again ready for use.

Referring now particularly to Fig. 3, there is shown a modified form of the present invention, referred to collectively as [0, and differing from the first form in the position of the spring catch elements 24' and 26'.

In this form, the spring catch element 24' is secured to the outside of body II at the bottom thereof, the free, lower end thereof being bent in a mannerxsimilar to the spring catch element 24 of the first form. A complementary spring catch element 26 is now secured to the top surface of tongue 29 and is provided with an upwardly extending, integrally formed tongue 28' adapted to resiliently engage the bent portion of element 24' adjacent the body H when the closure I6 is in a closed position.

In other respects, the form of the invention shown in Fig. 3 is the same as that illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 and like reference numeralsidentify like parts in each of the several views.

The use and operation of the receptacle I0 is the same as that described in connection with the receptacle [0.

It will be noted that in both forms the hinge elements I! and 18 are cut away :at the central portions of their adjacent edges to receive the body portion of spring 2|.

It should now be apparent that there has been provided a receptacle which may be readily and easily opened at the bottom thereof without the necessity of inverting the receptacle in order to empty the contents therefrom, a "hinged bottom being provided which is normally spring'urged to an open position but which is retained in a closed position by a spring catch, the catch being releasable with a minimum of efiort on the part of of the housewife or homeowner. It should also be apparent that there has been provided a receptacle of the above type wherein the catch is adapted to be released by the bottom of the foot while the arms are free to hold the receptacle above the ground.

While various changes may be made in the detailed construction, it shall be understood that such changes shall be within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claim:

Having thus set forth and disclosed the nature of my invention, what is claimed is:

A garbage can comprising a hollow body portion open at top and bottom, a fiat plate-like closure for the bottom of said body portion, said closure being hingeably connected at its periphery to the bottom of said body portion and integrally formed with an outwardly extending tongue in the plane of the closure diametrically opposite from said portion of said cover hingeably connected 'to said body portion, spring means normally urging said closure into an open position, said tongue .having secured thereto on .its upper surface a substantially L-shaped member terminating along its upper edge :in an enlarged portion, and a complementary strip secured to the outside of said body portion at the bottom thereof directly above said L-shaped member, said strip at its bottom portion being "bent outwardly and then inwardly whereby to vform a resilient catch for said L-shaped member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 876,038 Bryan .et a1. Jan. 7, 1908 1,240,740 Levett Sept. 18, 1917 1,392,559 De Long Oct. 4,1921 1,732,940 Larson Oct. 22, 1929 2,447,787 Atkinson Aug. 24, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 17,303 Austria Aug. '25, 1904 156,205 Germany May 25, 1939