Trash compactor assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11130305-B2
Application number	US-201816106808-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 21, 2018
Priority date	Aug 21, 2018
Publication date	Sep 28, 2021
Grant date	Sep 28, 2021

Abstract

A trash compactor assembly includes a receptacle including a base connected to at least one wall having an upper edge. A retaining chamber is defined between the wall(s) and the upper edge. A compaction plate is disposed within the retaining chamber. The compaction plate is configured to be manually moved in an upward direction from the base towards the upper edge to compact trash within the retaining chamber.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A trash compactor assembly, comprising:
a receptacle including a base connected to at least one wall, wherein the at least one wall has an upper edge, wherein a retaining chamber is defined between the at least one wall and the upper edge;
a compaction plate disposed within the retaining chamber, wherein the compaction plate is configured to be manually moved in an upward direction from the base towards the upper edge to compact trash within the retaining chamber;
a cord extending outwardly from the receptacle and coupled to the compaction plate, wherein the cord has a free end that is configured to be outwardly pulled away from the receptacle, and wherein the compaction plate moves upwardly in response to the free end of the cord being outwardly pulled away from the receptacle; and
a grasping handle secured to the free end of the cord, wherein the grasping handle is configured to be manually grasped and pulled.

2. The trash compactor assembly of claim 1 , further comprising one or more rails that extend between the base and the upper edge, wherein the compaction plate is slidably coupled to the receptacle through one or more rails.

3. The trash compactor assembly of claim 2 , further comprising one or more slide brackets that slidably couple the compaction plate to the receptacle.

4. The trash compactor assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a first pulley coupled to the receptacle, wherein the first pulley moveably couples to the cord that couples to the compaction plate.

5. The trash compactor assembly of claim 4 , further comprising a second pulley coupled to the compaction plate, wherein the second pulley is also moveably coupled to the cord.

6. The trash compactor assembly of claim 5 , further comprising a third pulley coupled to the compaction plate, wherein the third pulley is also moveably coupled to the cord.

7. The trash compactor assembly of claim 6 , wherein the second pulley is secured to a first corner of the compaction plate, and wherein the third pulley is secured to a second corner of the compaction plate that is diagonally opposite from the first corner.

8. The trash compactor assembly of claim 5 , further comprising an anchor secured to the receptacle, wherein the cord is secured to the anchor.

9. The trash compactor assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a securing collar that is removably secured to the upper edge of the receptacle, wherein the securing collar is configured to removably retain an upper plate.

10. The trash compactor assembly of claim 1 , further comprising an upper plate that is removably secured over the retaining chamber of the receptacle proximate to the upper edge, wherein the compaction plate and the upper plate are configured to compact the trash therebetween.

11. The trash compactor assembly of claim 10 , wherein the upper plate comprises a main body and a handle extending outwardly from the main body, wherein the handle is configured to prevent an access door of a trash containment system from closing when the upper plate is positioned over the retaining chamber.

12. The trash compactor assembly of claim 10 , wherein the receptacle further comprises one or more plate retainers that are configured to retain the upper plate in a stored position.

13. A trash compacting method, comprising:
providing a receptacle including a base connected to at least one wall, wherein the at least one wall has an upper edge, wherein a retaining chamber is defined between the at least one wall and the upper edge;
disposing a compaction plate within the retaining chamber; and
configuring the compaction plate to be manually moved in an upward direction from the base towards the upper edge to compact trash within the retaining chamber, wherein a cord extends outwardly from the receptacle and is coupled to the compaction plate, wherein the cord has a free end that is configured to be outwardly pulled away from the receptacle, wherein a grasping handle is secured to the free end of the cord, wherein the grasping handle is configured to be manually grasped and pulled, and wherein the compaction plate moves upwardly in response to the free end of the cord being outwardly pulled away from the receptacle.

14. The trash compacting method of claim 13 , further comprising:
coupling a first pulley to the receptacle; and
moveably coupling the cord to the first pulley.

15. The trash compacting method of claim 14 , further comprising:
coupling a second pulley to the compaction plate; and
moveably coupling the cord to the second pulley.

16. The trash compacting method of claim 15 , further comprising:
coupling a third pulley to the compaction plate; and
moveably coupling the cord to the third pulley.

17. The trash compacting method of claim 15 , further comprising:
securing an anchor to the receptacle; and
securing the cord to the anchor.

18. The trash compacting method of claim 13 , further comprising removably securing an upper plate over the retaining chamber of the receptacle proximate to the upper edge, wherein the compaction plate and the upper plate are configured to compact the trash therebetween.

19. A vehicle comprising:
an internal cabin;
a lavatory within the internal cabin; and
a trash containment system within the lavatory, wherein the trash containment system comprises:
an outer wall;
an upper wall connected to the outer wall, wherein the upper wall includes a trash-receiving opening, wherein a trash compartment is defined between the outer wall and the upper wall;
an access door moveably coupled to one or both of the outer wall and the upper wall, wherein the access door is configured to be moved between an open position in which the trash compartment is exposed and a closed position in which the trash compartment is covered; and
a trash compactor assembly positioned within the trash compartment, wherein the trash compactor comprises:
a receptacle including a base connected to at least one wall, wherein the at least one wall has an upper edge, wherein a retaining chamber is defined between the at least one wall and the upper edge;
a compaction plate disposed within the retaining chamber, wherein the compaction plate is configured to be manually moved in an upward direction from the base towards the upper edge to compact trash within the retaining chamber;
a cord extending outwardly from the receptacle and coupled to the compaction plate, wherein the cord has a free end that is configured to be outwardly pulled away from the receptacle, and wherein the compaction plate moves upwardly in response to the free end of the cord being outwardly pulled away from the receptacle; and
a grasping handle secured to the free end of the cord, wherein the grasping handle is configured to be manually grasped and pulled.

20. The vehicle of claim 19 , wherein the trash compactor assembly further comprises:
one or more rails that extend between the base and the upper edge, wherein the compaction plate is slidably coupled to the receptacle through one or more rails; and
one or more slide brackets that slidably couple the compaction plate to the receptacle.

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Childress Jamie J
• Flangas Lindsey

Classifications

• B30B9/301

  Feed means · CPC title

• B30B9/3042 Primary

  Containers provided with, or connectable to, compactor means · CPC title

• B30B9/3007

  Control arrangements · CPC title

• B30B9/3032 Primary

  Press boxes · CPC title

• B30B9/3046

  Containers with built-in compactor means · CPC title