Trash can assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10683165-B2
Application number	US-201715783370-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 13, 2017
Priority date	Mar 9, 2012
Publication date	Jun 16, 2020
Grant date	Jun 16, 2020

Abstract

Various embodiments of a trash can assembly (e.g., a receptacle configured to receive refuse, recyclable materials, or otherwise), and related methods, are provided. Some embodiments of the trash can assembly include a body component and a lid configured to move between an open position and a closed position. In some variants, the lid can be moved between the open and closed positions by a power operated driving mechanism, such as a motor and/or other drivetrain components. In certain embodiments, the trash can assembly includes a clutch mechanism to facilitate manual operation of the lid while inhibiting or preventing damage to the motor and/or other drivetrain components.

First claim

The following is claimed:

1. A trash can assembly comprising:
a body component comprising a lower base, an upper opening, and a front upper edge; and
a lid assembly configured to couple with the body component, the lid assembly comprising:
a lid configured to rotate, relative to the body, between a lower position and an upper position; and
a trim member configured to rotate between a closed position and an open position, wherein:
in the closed position, a front of the trim member is adjacent the front upper edge of the body component; and
in the open position, the front of the trim member is spaced apart from and vertically higher than the front upper edge of the body component; and

a power transmission device configured to drive the lid between the lower position and the upper position; and
a retaining mechanism configured to maintain the trim member in the open position against the force of gravity.

2. The trash can assembly of claim 1 , wherein the retaining mechanism comprises a detent.

3. The trash can assembly of claim 1 , wherein, in the open position, the trim member is at an acute angle with respect to a longitudinal axis of the body component.

4. The trash can assembly of claim 1 , wherein the retaining mechanism comprises a cam structure and a recess, the cam structure configured to be received in the recess when the trim member is in the open position.

5. The trash can assembly of claim 4 , wherein:
the retaining mechanism further comprises a ramp; and
the trash can assembly is configured such that, as the trim member rotates from the closed position to the open position, the cam structure slides along the ramp and engages into the recess.

6. The trash can assembly of claim 5 , wherein:
the cam structure is positioned on the trim ring; and
the ramp is positioned on a backside enclosure that is positioned on an exterior surface of a rear wall of the trash can assembly.

7. The trash can assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
a majority of the periphery of the lid is received in the trim member when the trim member is in the closed position and the lid is in the lower position; and
a majority of the periphery of the lid is positioned outside of the trim member when the trim member is in the closed position and the lid is in the upper position.

8. The trash can assembly of claim 1 , wherein, when the lid is in the lower position and the trim ring is in the closed position, the entire periphery of the lid is received in the trim ring.

9. The trash can assembly of claim 1 , wherein the trim member and the lid are configured to rotate about the same axis.

10. The trash can assembly of claim 1 , wherein the trim member further comprises an exterior wall that extends:
generally parallel with a longitudinal axis of the trash can;
downward beyond an upper lip of the body component; and
radially outward from the upper lip of the body component.

11. The trash can assembly of claim 1 , wherein the body component has a rectangular shape.

12. The trash can assembly of claim 1 , wherein at least a front half of the body portion has a generally cylindrical shape.

13. The trash can assembly of claim 1 , wherein the power transmission device comprises a motor.

14. The trash can assembly of claim 13 , wherein the lid assembly further comprises an electronic sensor, wherein the motor is configured to be activated in response to a signal from the electronic sensor, and wherein the trash can assembly is configured such that the electronic sensor is disabled when the trim member is in the open position.

15. The trash can assembly of claim 1 , wherein the power transmission device comprises a footpedal.

16. The trash can assembly of claim 1 , wherein the body component further comprises an internal liner configured to support a trash bag.

17. A method of mounting a trash bag, the method comprising:
obtaining a trash can assembly comprising a body component, lid, and trim ring, the lid and trim ring each configured to rotate relative to the body component;
rotating the trim ring from a closed position to an open position;
engaging the trim ring with a retaining mechanism;
maintaining the trim ring in the open position against the force of gravity with the retaining mechanism, the trim ring being held in the open position at an acute angle with respect to a longitudinal axis of the body component;
inserting a trash bag into the trash can assembly;
positioning an upper portion of the trash bag over an upper edge of the body component;
disengaging the trim ring from the retaining mechanism; and
rotating the trim ring from the open position to the closed position.

18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising visually obscuring, with the trim ring, the upper portion of the trash bag and the upper edge of the body component.

19. The method of claim 17 , further comprising rotating the lid from a lower position to an upper position, rotating the lid from the upper position the lower position, and receiving the entire periphery of the lid in the trim ring.

20. The method of claim 17 , wherein rotating the trim ring from the closed position to the open position further comprises rotating the trim ring about the same axis as the lid.

21. The method of claim 17 , wherein engaging the trim ring with the retaining mechanism comprises engaging the trim ring with a detent.

22. The method of claim 17 , wherein engaging the trim ring with the retaining mechanism comprises sliding a cam structure along a ramp in a first direction, and receiving the cam structure in a recess.

23. The method of claim 22 , wherein disengaging the trim ring with the retaining mechanism comprises removing the cam structure from the recess, and sliding the cam structure along the ramp in a second direction that is generally opposite the first direction.

Assignees

• Simplehuman Llc

Inventors

• Yang Frank
• Wolbert David
• Sandor Joseph
• Yen Kenneth
• Cardenas Orlando
• Basha Michael James
• Fruhauf Christopher B

Classifications

• B65F1/1646

  provided with means for mounting on receptacles, e.g. hinges · CPC title

• B65F1/04

  with removable inserts · CPC title

• B65F1/06

  with flexible inserts, e.g. bags or sacks {(B65F1/0073 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• B65F1/068

  with means aiding the removal of the flexible insert · CPC title

• B65F1/1638 Primary

  Electromechanically operated lids · CPC title