Composting device with funnel assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10501381-B2
Application number	US-201615158958-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 19, 2016
Priority date	May 19, 2016
Publication date	Dec 10, 2019
Grant date	Dec 10, 2019

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a composting device including a housing defining an interior with an access opening providing access to the interior, a composter bin located within the interior and in communication with the access opening, and a funnel assembly integrated with the access opening.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A food composter comprising:
a housing defining an interior, and having a top wall defining an access opening providing access to the interior;
a bin located within the interior and having a fill opening in communication with the access opening;
a door moveable relative to the access opening between open/closed positions to selectively open/close the access opening; and
a removable trim bezel located between the door and the access opening and surrounding the access opening;
wherein the trim bezel is removable from the housing while the door remains affixed to the housing.

2. The food composter of claim 1 further comprising a funnel carried by the housing and aligned with the access opening, with the trim bezel overlying at least a portion of the funnel.

3. The food composter of claim 2 wherein the funnel is integrally formed with the housing and defines the access opening.

4. The food composter of claim 3 wherein the housing has an end wall and the funnel is integrally formed in the end wall.

5. The food composter of claim 4 wherein the door is slidably mounted to the end wall.

6. The food composter of claim 5 wherein the trim bezel is made of dishwasher-safe material.

7. The food composter of claim 6 wherein the dishwasher-safe material can retain its shape after being exposed to temperatures greater than 65° C. for at least 180 mins.

8. The food composter of claim 6 wherein the dishwasher-safe material has a static friction coefficient of less than 0.3.

9. The food composter of claim 2 wherein the funnel comprises a converging portion and a tube, with the trim bezel overlying at least a portion of the converging portion.

10. The food composter of claim 9 wherein the trim bezel overlies all of the converging portion.

11. The food composter of claim 9 wherein the converging portion and the trim bezel have a rectilinear perimeter.

12. The food composter of claim 1 wherein the trim bezel is made of dishwasher-safe material.

13. The food composter of claim 12 wherein the dishwasher-safe material can retains its shape after being exposed to temperatures greater than 65° C. for at least 180 mins.

14. The food composter of claim 1 wherein the trim bezel is made of material having a static friction coefficient of less than 0.3.

15. A food composter comprising:
a housing defining an interior and having an end wall having an access opening providing access to the interior;
a bin located within the interior and having a fill opening in communication with the access opening;
a door moveable relative to the access opening between open/closed positions to selectively open/close the access opening; and
a funnel assembly located in the end wall and comprising a removable portion located between the door and the access opening.

16. The food composter of claim 15 wherein the removable portion is made of dishwasher-safe material.

17. The food composter of claim 16 wherein the dishwasher-safe material can retains its shape after being exposed to temperatures greater than 65° C. for at least 180 mins.

18. The food composter of claim 17 wherein the dishwasher-safe material has a static friction coefficient of less than 0.3.

19. The food composter of claim 15 wherein the removable portion comprises a trim bezel.

20. The food composter of claim 19 wherein the funnel assembly further comprises a converging portion and the trim bezel overlies at least a portion of the converging portion.

21. A food composter comprising:
a housing defining an interior, and having a top wall defining an access opening providing access to the interior;
a bin located within the interior and having a fill opening in communication with the access opening;
a door moveable relative to the access opening between open/closed positions to selectively open/close the access opening; and
a removable trim bezel separated from and located between the door and the access opening surrounding the access opening;
wherein the trim bezel is removable from the housing while the door remains affixed to the housing.

Assignees

• Whirlpool Co

Inventors

• Buzruk Abhishek P
• Wilcox Christopher C
• Seeley Michael S

Classifications

• C05F17/964

  Constructional parts, e.g. floors, covers or doors · CPC title

• C05F17/907 Primary

  Small-scale devices without mechanical means for feeding or discharging material, e.g. garden compost bins · CPC title

• Y02P20/145

  the feedstock being materials of biological origin · CPC title

• C05F17/0205 Primary

  Chemistry & Metallurgy · mapped topic

• C05F17/0258

  Chemistry & Metallurgy · mapped topic