US3128981A - Hold-down device for cans and lids - Google Patents

Description

A ril 14, 1964 w. F. PUETSCH ETAL 3,128,981

HOLD-DOWN DEVICE FOR CANS AND LIDS Filed Aug. 23. 1961 4 sheets-sheet 2 III lIl/I l/l/IIl/l/IIl/Y/l April 14, 1964 Filed Aug; 23. 1961 W. F. PUETSCH ETAL HOLD-DOWN DEVICE FOR CANS AND LIDS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 77/7117 flfii iB IL- T IIIIIIIIIIII;

INVENTORS:

April 14, 1964 w. F. PUET SCH ETAL 3,123,981

HOLD-DOWN DEVICE FOR CANS AND LIDS Filed Aug. 25, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 United States Patent M 3,128,981 HOLD-DQWN DEVICE FOR CANS AND LIDS William F. Fuetsch, 729 E. 6th St, and Ciyde M. Herington, 2005 W. 1st St, both of Davenport, Iowa Fiied Aug. 23, 1961, Ser. No. 133,475 9 Claims. (Cl. 248-446) The present invention to a device for holding down garbage and similar cans and the lids thereof with the view to prevent such cans from being tipped over or the lids thereof being opened or pried off by prowling animals or the like.

The average householder utilizes garbage or trash containers which are usually located at the rear of the dwelling. Such containers normally have a removable cover and it is important that they cannot be easily upset by prowling domestic animals seeking food. Furthermore, the cover for such containers should be held in place so that the contents cannot be spilled by such prowling animals and, yet, when access to the container is desired by the householder or by scavenging organizations which pick up the garbage, then such covers should be readily removable. It would be desirable to provide an inexpensive structure for supporting such trash containers in a manner that the trash container can readily be removed from the support for emptying and returned to its supported or secured position in a very simple manner. Moreover, returning the can to the secured position should be no more bothersome than merely placing the can on a solid surface such as the ground. Additionally, such structure should include means for supporting the removable lid or cover holding it in the closed position against removal by animals or the like, and yet, in no way interfering with removing the cover to put something into the trash container or removing the cover during the emptying operation of the container. Furthermore, such cover support means should support the cover in a position which will not interfere with emptying the container.

Structures for supporting trash cans and covers for such trash cans have been suggested, but they have not been successful for a number of reasons. First of all, they have been too expensive. Secondly, many of those available have caused too much inconvenience to those placing trash in the container or to those emptying the container periodically. Additionally, such holders have been of large size so they cannot be shipped in a compact package.

It would be desirable to provide an improved holddown device for trash cans and the like which eliminates the disadvantage of prior art devices referred to above, which is inexpensive to manufacture and which is convenient to use.

Another object of the present invention is to provide such a garbage can and cover holder which may be shipped in a compact package so as to come within the postal regulations and, yet, which requires substantially no assembly operation at the point of use.

Still another object of the present invention resides in an improved hold-down device for garbage cans and lids wherein the lid or cover of the can is held against inadvertent opening of the can and, yet, wherein the cover may be removed to a position in which it will not interfere with placing articles in the garbage can or emptying the can.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent as the following description pro ceeds, and the features of novelty which characterize the invention will be pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification.

Briefly, the present invention resides in a simple device 3,128,981 Patented Apr..14, 1964 comprising a hook-shaped element which may be secured to a suitable support and the hook portion of which element may be engaged by the handle of a garbage can. This support includes a hinge for hingedly relating thereto a cover supporting arm by means of a lost motion connection, such that the cover supporting arm may readily be moved to a cover hold-down position or to another position where the cover is supported in a manner that the garbage may be emptied without any interference therefrom. Suitable means may also be provided for engaging the bottom of the can suitably to support the same.

For a better understanding of the present invention, reference may be had to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the hold-down device for garbage cans and lids shovm as being used with a conventional garbage or trash can, the cover being shown in the closed position in solid lines and being shown in dashed lines the position in which the hold-down device holds such cover so as not to interfere with emptying the can;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 2-2 of FIG. 1 but only showing a fragmentary portion of the a can;

FIG. 3 is a greatly enlarged fragmentary view of a portion of the device of FIGS. 1 and 2 when the cover holddown portion thereof is in the position shown in dashed lines in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 44 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 1 showing a slight modification of the hold-down device of FIG. 1 applied to a different type garbage can;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary view similar to FIG. 3 of a modification of the present invention with the cover holddown device shown in the position for holding the cover on the trash can;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken on line '7-7 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7 but with the cover hold-down device in the position for holding the cover free of the can in a manner not to interfere with emptying the garbage or trash contained therein;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary view similar to FIG. 6 illustrating another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken on line 1il10 of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 10 but showing the device of FIGS. 9 and 10 in the position when the cover is held free of the garbage can be permit unimpeded emptying thereof;

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary View similar to FIGS. 6 and 9 of still another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a sectional view taken on line 13-13 of FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 13 but illustrating the cover hold-down device in the position it would attain when the cover is held away from the trash can be permit unimpeded emptying thereof;

FIG. 15 is a side elevational view of still another modification of the present invention;

FIG. 16 is a front elevational view of FIG. 15;

FIG. 17 is a side elevational view of still another embodiment of a hold-down device; and

FIG. 18 is a view looking in the direction of the arrows 1818 in FIG. 18.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 to 5 of the drawings, which illustrate the presently considered preferred embodiment of the invention, there is provided a hold-down device for garbage cans and lids which effectively is a three part device comprising three separate elements designated as 21, 22. and 23, respectively. These parts would be manufactured and packaged to fit into a small package which together with several supporting screws could be shipped under the present postal regulations without difficulty. Specifically, the element 21 is a movable cover holder illustrated as being formed of rod-like material such as cold rolled steel suitably galvanized or otherwise treated to withstand the weather without deterioration. In a device built in accordance with the present invention the element 21 was formed from one-quarter inch cold rolled steel rod and one end thereof was deformed into a somewhat rectangular hinge loop 21a, as best shown in FIG. 3 of the drawings. The other end 21b of the element 21 which might be termed the cover holding end is formed into a spring loop 21c, as best shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings, for releasably engaging the handle 24 of a garbage can lid or cover 25 associated with the conventional garbage can 26. The end 21b overlies a portion of the element 21 and the inherent resilience of the material from which element 21 is made causes the loop 21c to remain closed but which loop can readily be opened for the insertion of the cover handle 24. The garbage can 26 is illustrated as having the usual bail 27 secured to diametrically opposed portions of the can as indicated at 28.

The element or bracket 22 of the present invention is a combined garbage can hook and hinge member for the cover holder 21. As illustrated in the drawings, it comprises a sheet metal strap formed so as to have a hook portion 22a at the lower end thereof and an elongated curved loop defining portion 22b at the upper end thereof defining the loop 29 (FIGS. 2 and 4). In a device built in accordance with the present invention, a steel strap 1% inches wide by /8 inch in thickness was deformed to form the bracket 22 and the upper portion 22b was shaped so that the cover holder 21 could be inserted into the curved loop 29 either before shipment or after shipment, as the case might be. The bracket 22 is preferably adapted to be secured by a plurality of screws or fastening means, generally designated at 30, to secure the same to a suitable support 31 which is illustrated as a post but which might be a wall or any other type of support. The screws 30 at the upper part of the bracket 22 not only secure the bracket to the support 31 but also close the elongated curved loop 29 to retain in hinged relationship therewith the portion 21a of cover holder 21. To prevent inadvertent removal of the bail 27 from the hook portion 220, the end of bracket 22 is deformed at the two edges thereof as indicated at 33.

The third element 23 is a can supporting bracket and is specifically illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings as being formed of channel shaped material. The upper portion 23a thereof is the support engaging portion and is preferably provided with suitable openings to receive fastening means 35 to secure the same to the support 31. The lower bracket 23 also includes an intermediate angularly disposed portion 23b, a vertically disposed portion 23c and a horizontally disposed portion 23d all integrally formed and connected in the order named. Attached to the portion 23d as by welding or the like is an arcuate segment or member 37 formed from angle material which could be of almost any feasible metal such as iron, aluminum or the like and in some cases may even be molded from a suitable plastic. The arcuate segment 37 is secured to portion 23d of bracket 23 in a position to define a recess 38 between the vertical portion 230 and the member 37. This recess 38 is adapted to receive the conventional depending bottom annular rim designated as 2612 of the garbage can 26 (FIG. 2). It will be apparent that by virtue of the recess 38 the can 26 is supported by the bracket 23 and it is almost impossible for a prowling animal or the like to dislodge the can 26 from this recess and the handle 27 from hook portion 22a of the bracket 22.

From the above description it will be apparent that the device for holding down garbage cans and garbage can covers or lids of the present invention is a very compact and simple one which can be shipped in a very small package and which can be mounted at the desired location by anyone capable of using a screwdriver. Moreover, the cover holder 21 holds the cover in the closed position as clearly indicated by solid lines in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings. When it is desired to remove the cover, either for the purpose of emptying the can 26 or for the purpose of placing trash or garbage into the can, one merely grasps the handle 24 of the cover 25 and lifts it upwardly so that the hinged loop 21a moves to the lower end of the curved loop 29 with the portion of loop 21a closest to loop 210 disposed behind the portion 22b of bracket 22, as clearly indicated in FIGS. 3 and 4 of the drawings. This position of cover holder 21 may be termed the locked open position. In this position the cover 21 is held in the dashed line position shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings and is completely out of the way whereby the can 26 can readily be removed for emptying. Thereafter, by merely lifting upwardly on the cover handle 24, the holder 21 will be raised sufticiently to permit it to move from the locked open position of FIGS. 3 and 4 to the position of FIGS. 1 and 2. It should be understood that the elements 21, 2 and 23 may be made from any suitable material such as aluminum, steel or the like.

The arcuate angle portion 37 of the bracket 23 may also be used to support the can in the manner shown in FIG. 5 of the drawings. As there illustrated, a garbage can 49 of the type having a pair of diametrically opposed handles 41 is illustrated. The cover is identical with that shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings and identified by the same reference numeral 25, as are the other parts of FIG. 5 of the drawings with the exception of the bracket designated as 23 instead of 23. In this case one of the handles 41 engages the hooked shaped portion 22a of the bracket 22 and the bracket 23 instead of supporting the bottom of the can has the arcuate segment 37 engaging the exterior wall of the can to support the same. The vertically disposed portion of arcuate segment 37 preferably conforms closely to the exterior of the can 26. It should be appreciated that the bracket 23 might be used in FIG. 5 in the manner of FIG. 1 to support the can bottom. The bracket 23' is an L-shaped member having one leg of the L secured to the support 31, while the arcuate segment 37 is secured to the free end of the other leg of the L. To define a recess similar to 38 an angle member 44 is welded or otherwise secured to the other leg of the L spaced sufiiciently from the segment 37 to receive the can rim 26a therebetween.

With the above described arrangement the improved hinge connection between the bracket 22 and the cover holder 21 insures that the cover is held in the open position without interference in respect to emptying the can and yet makes it possible to readily replace the cover on the can almost as if the cover holder 21 were not present.

In FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 of the drawings, there is illustrated a modification of the present invention in which only the hinge connection between the cover holder and the combined garbage can hook and binge member is illustrated, it being understood that the remaining parts of the device could be identical with those heretofore described. As shown in FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 of the draw ings, there is provided a combined garbage can hook and hinge member 45 which is formed of strap metal just is the bracket 22 described above. The upper end of the member 45 is bifurcated as indicated at 46 and the portions of the bracket 45 defining the bifurcations are formed into spaced circular loops 45a. The cover holder is designated at 4 8 and, except for the hinge portion thereof, may be identical with the holder 21 described above. To provide the hinge portion for the cover holder 28 there is provided an arcuate exten- 0 sion 49 having a diameter smaller than the diameter of the loop portions 45a and concentrically arranged therewith. The cover holder 48 is suitably secured to the extension 49 as by welding or the like, thus providing relatively rotating hinge portions 45a and 49. To hold the cover 48 in the open position, the portion 49 thereof is rotated in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 7, relative to the loop portion 45a until one edge 56* of portion 49 abuts with the ends 51 of the bifurcations defining the loops 45a. Thus, the cover holder 48 is readily held in the upper or locked open position holding the garbage can cover 25 completely free of the can 26 to permit emptying of the latter. When it is desired to close the cover, a slight upward lift on the holder 48 releases the abutting edges 50 and 51 and permits the cover holder 48 to be moved to the position of FIGS. 6 and 7 and consequently the cover 25 to close the can 26 without any interference whatever.

In FIGS. 9, 10 and 11 of the drawings, there is illustrated still another modification, which, like FIGS. 6, 7 and 8, merely resides in the hinge connection between the cover holder and the combined garbage can hook and binge member. As illustrated in FIGS. 9, 10 and 11, there is provided a combined hook and hinge member 55, only the upper end of which is shown, the lower hook portion being identical with that shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings. This member 55 is preferably formed of metal strap and the upper end thereof is provided with an elongated notch 56. Further, the upper end of the member 55 is bent to provide a first horizontal portion 55a, a vertical portion 55b and a sec ond horizontal portion 550 connected in a sort of Z- shaped configuration, with the elongated notch 56 extending into all three portions as clearly indicated in FIGS. 10 and 11 of the drawings. The cover holder, designated at 58, preferably comprises a similar metal strap member connected to a rod-like holder (not shown) which may be identical to the holder 21 described above. The member 58 is provided adjacent the hinge end thereof with a pair of diametrically opposed notches 59 so as to define a T-shaped end 58a. This T-shaped end of the cover holder 58 may readily be hingedly related to the bracket 55 by rotating the former through an angle of 90 degrees so that the T-shaped end 58a may be inserted edgewise into the elongated notch 56, after which the holder 58 is rotated back to the position shown in the drawings. Thus, the parts may be readily assembled and disassembled. In the closed cover position, the cover holder 53 may rest against the horizontal portion of the bracket 55. When it is desired to open the cover, the holder 53 is moved in pivotal relationship with respect to the portion 55 and is held in the locked open position by an angle member 64} suitably welded or otherwise secured to the bracket 55, as clearly shown in FIGS. 9, 10 and 11 of the drawings. Also as in the preceding embodiment, it is merely necessary to lift the holder 58 slightly so the T-shaped end 58a clears the angle member 60 and the cover 25 of garbage can 26 may be closed as if no cover holder were present. Moreover, in the position shown in FIG. 11, the cover holder 58 will hold the garbage can cover in the locked open position whereby there is no interference with respect to emptying the can or placing garbage therein.

In FIGS. 12, 13 and 14 there is illustrated still another modification of the invention comprising the combined garbage can hook and hinge member 64 and the cover holder 58, the reference numeral 58 being employed to indicate that the cover holder may be identical with that of FIGS. 9, 10 and 11, designated by the same reference numeral. The bracket 64, as in FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 of the drawings, is bifurcated, as indicated at 65, and the bifurcations are deformed into loops designated at 6411. However, the ends of the bifurcations, designated as 65, are spaced from the main body of the bracket 64 to define the space 67 therebetween. As in FIGS. 9, 10 and 11, the parts may be readily assembled and disassembled. The holder 58 may be initially hingedly related to the bracket 64 by placing the holder 58 in face to face engagement with the main body portion 64 below the loop portion 64a (as shown in dashed lines in FIG. 13) and then sliding the T-shaped portion 58a into the recess 67 until the notches 59 permit the bifurcations 64a to be received therein. The space 67 in the locked open position of cover holder 58 receives the end 58a of the holder, as clearly shown in FIG. 14 of the drawings. bodiments, merely lifting upwardly on the holder 58 frees it to permit replacement of the cover 24 on garbage can 26 as if the cover holder were not present.

In FIGS. 15 and 1 6 of the drawings there is illustrated another modification of the present invention in which the cover holder is also selectively held in the locked open position or moved to a position where the cover may be replaced on the garbage can without interference. As illustrated, there is provided a cover holder 70, only the hinge portion of which is shown in FIGS. '15 and 16, but the remainder thereof may be identical with the holder 21 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings. The holder 79 has the hinge end thereof deformed somewhat as in the modification of FIG. 1 and there is provided a pivot portion 7% disposed at right angles to the main portion of the holder 7% and a locking portion 7% parallel with the main portion and perpendicular to the portion 7%. This holder is pivotally supported by a U-shaped member 72 having a bight portion 72a adapted to be secured to a suitable support such as 31 by screws or fastening means 73. The U-shaped support 72 includes leg portions 72b and 72c projecting outwardiy from the bight portion 72a. The leg portions 72b and 720 are provided with aligned openings for pivotally supporting the pivot portion 70a of the cover holder 70. For the purpose of holding the cover holder 70 in the locked open position shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, there is provided a projection 72d integral with the leg 72c and laterally extending from the end thereof not connected to bight portion 72a. The upper edge of projection 72:! is adapted to hold the portion 70b of the cover holder 70 in the locked open position thereof. When it is desired to replace the cover on the garbage can, which cover is held by the holder 70, then one merely need move the holder '70 to the left, as viewed in FIG. 16 of the drawings, sliding the pivot portion 70a along its pivotal axis in the aligned openings in legs 72b and 72c, with the result that the portion 70b is moved free of the projection 72a to permit pivotal movement about the pivot axis. If desired, the lower edge of projection 72d may also be utilized to hold the portion 70b and hence the holder 70 in a position maintaining the garbage can cover on the garbage can. This can be accomplished by moving the portion 701: of the cover holder 79 along its longitudinal axis so that locking portion 70a moves below projection 72d. It will be understood that the support 72 can readily be formed from a piece of strap material.

In order to provide a hook and support for the garbage can itself, there is provided the bracket 75, preferably formed of strap iron and having the upper end deformed to define the hook 75a for supporting the bail or handle of a garbage can such as 26 or 4% described above. The lower end of bracket 75 is provided with a horizontal extension 7512 to which is welded or otherwise secured an arcuate segment '76 which may have the configuration of the arcuate segment 37. As illustrated, the arcuate segment '76 is formed of a tube or a rod in the shape of a circular segment conforming to the circumference of a garbage can. The bracket 75 will be secured to the same support 31 as by screws 77.

In view of the detailed description set forth above, the

As in the preceding emoperation of the hold-down device of FIGS. 15 and 16 will readily be understood by those skilled in the art.

In FIGS. 17 and 18 of the drawings there is illustrated a hold-down device differing somewhat from those described heretofore. This hold-down device comprises a bracket 80 quite similar to the bracket 75 described above, having a hook 80a at the upper end thereof, and a horizontally projecting portion 8% at the lower end. Suitable Openings 81 are provided in this bracket for securing the same to a suitable support by fastening means not shown. Welded or otherwise suitably secured to the portion 80b of bracket 80 is a garbage can supporting member 82 in the shape of an arcuate segment which may be identical with the element 76 illustrated in FIGS. 15 and 16. The handle or bail of the garbage can will be supported by the upper hook 80a, and of course the element 32 will support the lower end of the can either as indicated in FIG. 1 or in FIG. of the drawings.

A cover holder 84 is provided, which is preferably formed of rodlike material having a loop 84a integrally formed at one end which may be very similar to the loop 210 on the holder 21. The other end of holder 84 comprises an elongated depending extension 8411 which is journalled in a plurality of aligned openings 85 in the bracket 80 to provide a hinged support for the cover 84, the lowermost of these openings 85 being in the portion 80b, and the uppermost of these openings being in a horizontal portion 800 interconnecting the hook 80a to the main body portion of bracket 89.

For a purpose which will become apparent from the ensuing description, the lower end of the depending portion 84b of cover holder 84 is provided with a lateral projection 840 which is disposed substantially at right angles to the portion of cover holder 84 having the end 84:: defined thereon. In the position shown in FIGS. 17 and 18 of the drawings, the portion 84b of cover holder 84 may be moved vertically in the aligned openings 85. In other words, axial movement of the portion 84b is permitted. Thus, when it is desired to close the cover on the garbage can, the user merely drops the cover and holder 84 drops down with it, the portion 84b moving axially in the aligned openings 85. For the purpose of holding the cover in an out of the way position permitting emptying of the can, there is provided an L-shaped support 88 having one end welded or otherwise secured to the underside of the portion 30b of bracket 89. The arm 88a then acts as a stop for lateral projection 84c and consequently holder 84. When the cover holder 84 is rotated about the longitudinal axis of portion 84b, the portion 840 moves to the dashed line position shown in FIG. 17 above the support 88, and in this position the cover holder 84 can move downwardly only slightly until portion 840 engages the arm 88a of L-shaped support 88. Furthermore, in this position of the cover holder 84 it is rotated through an angle of the order of ninety degrees and is completely out of the way and cannot interfere with emptying the garbage can.

From the above description it will be apparent that there have been provided a plurality of arrangements which are simple and inexpensive to manufacture, and which will eliminate the problem of having prowling animals or the like upsetting garbage cans and spilling the contents thereof. Moreover, all of the arrangements except the arrangement of FIGS. 17 and 18 may be shipped in a very small and compact package.

Although the present invention has been referred to as applicable to garbage cans it can equally well be used to support waste cans in industrial plants or the like as well as feed cans on farms and the like Consequently, it is intended in the appended claims to cover all uses of the invention whether limited to garbage cans or not.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to the particular construction shown, but that other changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of 8 the present invention, and it is aimed in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A can and cover holder for garbage cans and the like comprising a sheet metal strap having a hook portion for engaging a handle member on said can formed at one end thereof, a hinge portion formed on the other end of said strap, and a movable cover holder member provided with a cover holder portion for engaging the handle of a can cover and additionally provided with a hinge portion operatively associated with the first mentioned hinge portion, said hinge portions having cooperating means for locking said cover holder member when said member is pivoted upwardly to an open position, said cooperating means releasing said cover upon the mere raising of said cover holder member relative to the first-mentioned hinge portion.

2. A can and cover holder for garbage cans and the like comprising support means, a hook portion secured to said support means adapted to engage a handle member on said can, a hinge portion comprising a sheet metal strap bent to form a loop secured to said support means, and a movable cover holder member provided with a hinge portion operatively associated with said loop portion and provided with a cover holder portion adapted to engage the handle of a can cover, said movable cover member being movable between a cover hold-down position and a locked open position.

3. A can and cover holder for garbage cans and the like as set forth in claim 1 including means for rigidly supporting the lower end of a can.

4. A can and cover holder as set forth in claim 2 including a can supporting bracket means for engaging the lower end of said can comprising an arcuate segment spaced from an intermediate angularly disposed portion to form a recess therebetween adapted selectively to receive a depending bottom annular rim of a can in said recess and to receive the side wall of a can against said arcuate segment, said can supporting bracket being secured to said support.

5. A can and cover holder as set forth in claim 2 wherein said hook portion is adapted selectively to engage a bail on a can connected to the can at diametrically opposed points and additionally adapted selectively to engage one of a pair of diametrically opposed loop-shaped handles of a can.

6. A can and cover holder for garbage cans and the like comprising a combined can hook and hinge member formed of sheet metal and provided at its lower end with a hook portion adapted selectively to engage the ball of a can and selectively to engage one of a pair of handles of a can, and including an elongated curved loop at its upper end defining a loop portion which extends angularly up wardly, and a movable cover holder of rodlike material provided with a rectangular hinge loop inserted in said loop portion of said can hook and hinge member to form a hinge, said cover holder additionally including a cover holder end formed into a spring loop for releasably engaging the handle of a can lid and provided with a portion thereof overlying another portion thereof, the inherent resilience of the material of the cover holder being sufficient tomaintain the spring loop thereof closed while providing for the loop to be readily opened for the insertion of the cover handle, said rectangular hinge loop hingedly relating said cover supporting arm to said can hook and hinge member for providing movement of said arm to a cover hold-down position and to a locked open position with the portion of the rectangular loop hinge close to the cover holder end being disposed within the loop defining portion of said can hook and hinge member.

7. A can and cover holder as set forth in claim 1 wherein the hinge portion of said strap is bifurcated with the portions thereof defining the bifurcations being formed into spaced circular loops, and wherein said movable cover holder member is provided with an arcuate extension having a diameter smaller than the diameter of the loop portions and concentrically arranged therewith so that said movable cover holder member is rotatable until one edge thereof abuts an edge of the bifurcations defining said loop to lock said cover holder member in an open position.

8. A can and cover holder for garbage cans as set forth in claim 1 wherein said hinge portion of said strap has first and second horizontal portions interconnected by a vertical portion in a Z-shaped configuration with an elongated notch extending into all three of said portions, and additionally provided with an extending member below said hinge portion, and wherein said cover holder member is provided adjacent the hinge end thereof with a pair of diametrically opposed notches defining a T-shaped end hingedly related to said can hook and hinge member through said elongated notch and movable into a cover open position wherein said T-shaped edge engages the end of said extending member to lock said can cover in the open position.

9. A can and cover holder as set forth in claim 1 wherein the hinge portion of said strap is bifurcated with the bifurcations deformed into loops, the ends of which are spaced from the main body of said member to define a space therebetween, and wherein said cover holder member is hingedly related to said loops by a T-shaped portion thereof slidable into said space to lock said cover 10 holder into a cover open position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 15 2,205,319 Swanson June 18, 1940 2,448,456 Niskanen et al. Aug. 31, 1948 2,471,257 Blank May 24, 1949 2,505,126 Logan Apr. 25, 1950 2,808,173 Patnode Oct. 1, 1957 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3, 128,981 April 14, 1964 William F. Puetsch et a1.

It is hereby certified. that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 1, line 9, after "invention" insert relates column 2, lines 49 and 58, for "be", each occurrence, read. to column 4, line 67, after "just" insert as column 8, line 25, strike out "portion'h Signed and sealed this 4th day of August 1964,

EAL)

ttest:

RNEST w. SWIDER' EDWARD J. BRENNER ltesting Officer Commissioner of Patents

Claims (1)

1. A CAN AND COVER HOLDER FOR GARBAGE CANS AND THE LIKE COMPRISING A SHEET METAL STRAP HAVING A HOOK PORTION FOR ENGAGING A HANDLE MEMBER ON SAID CAN FORMED AT ONE END THEREOF, A HINGE PORTION FORMED ON THE OTHER END OF SAID STRAP, AND A MOVABLE COVER HOLDER MEMBER PROVIDED WITH A COVER HOLDER PORTION FOR ENGAGING THE HANDLE OF A CAN COVER AND ADDITIONALLY PROVIDED WITH A HINGE PORTION OPERATIVELY ASSOCIATED WITH THE FIRST MENTIONED HINGE POR-

Images