Supports: cabinet structure – With movable components – Horizontally movable
Reexamination Certificate
2002-06-21
2004-03-09
Fitzgerald, John (Department: 3637)
Supports: cabinet structure
With movable components
Horizontally movable
C312S311000, C312S319100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06702411
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the field of kitchen cabinet convenience devices, and, more particularly, relates to a system wherein a waste container or cabinet drawer is positioned within a kitchen cabinet and automatically moves outside of the cabinet upon opening of the cabinet door covering same.
2. Description of the Background Art
It is commonplace to place a kitchen garbage receptacle on the floor. These containers usually have a relatively short period of usage during the workday and are otherwise often cumbersome and unsightly inconveniences to be left out in the open. Some containers such as tool bins, storage bags, waster paper baskets, hampers and similar items suffer from the same draw backs. Although it is necessary to have such a container available for occasional use, it is nevertheless usually an obstruction when not being used.
In the past, it has been proposed to use the space between the supporting legs of a desk, for example, and similar recesses such as the space under a kitchen sink, to position such containers in a spot that is both convenient and not cumbersome. However, if the basket or similar container is positioned in a recess of a desk or cabinet, then it must frequently be moved to deposit items therein. Also, it has become popular to use oversized drawers to stow such items as pots, pans and small appliances. Gaining access to such drawers when ones hands are either occupied or wet, etc, becomes unnecessarily burdensome.
One solution to this problem is addressed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,111,506, wherein a system is shown for carrying a waste basket or similar item into and out of the recess of, for example, a desk or cabinet. The invention of the '506 patent moves the waste basket or drawer or similar item by means of a roller along a tiltable hanging bar. The degree of force necessary to move the basket along the hanger rod is somewhat greater than desired, installation of the device is difficult, and the space or housing within the desk or cabinet is restricted.
Another attempt at solving the problem is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No 4,371,222, which discloses a retractable scissors tong mechanism supported within a cabinet or the like, which employs a mechanism used to support or carry a waste basket between stowed and accessible positions.
Waste containers including garbage cans are conventionally placed in a convenient comer or the like in the kitchen or other area in which the container is to be used. Frequently, removable liners are provided for such containers and these generally are in the form of conventional paper bags, plastic bags, or the like in which the mouth of the bag is merely laid over the top of the container.
Cans receiving kitchen wastes are usually provided with a can which can be opened by a step-on mechanism. Other developments in this art include garbage containers which are mounted in concealed relation within a cabinet or the like and, when the container is moved to an exposed position, the container lid is automatically opened. An example of this type of construction is found in U.S. Pat. No. 2,934,390. An example of a garbage can with a liner is found in U.S. Pat. No. 1,886,406. However, such devices have not been accepted in the field of use as the structures have failed to dependably produce the desired results.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,528,718 to Johnson teaches a container such as a garbage can of a relatively large capacity having a liner disposed therein with a detachable connection between the upper end of the liner and the upper end of the container to stabilize the liner within the container but yet enable ready removal thereof with the connecting structure and the liner serving as a rigidifying handle to enable lifting of the liner when it has been filled with waste material.
The garbage container forms a component
10
and includes a substantially flat bottom
12
of a rectangular configuration and upstanding end walls
14
and sidewalls
16
which terminate at the upper edge thereof in an outwardly extending flange
18
which in turn terminates in a downwardly extending flange
20
.
The downwardly extending flange
20
is substantially continuous but discontinuously at
22
along the end walls thereof to provide handholds for facilitating removal of the container
10
. Attached to the upper surface of the peripheral flange
18
is a rib
24
of cylindrical configuration which is secured thereto by any suitable means such as by an adhesive or being molded as an integral part thereof or attached thereto by a heat sealing operation or the like as at
26
.
The central portion of the rib along each sidewall
16
is discontinuous at 8. Also, each side portion of the flange
18
is provided with a pair of depending projections
30
each of which is in the form of a shank having a rounded enlargement
32
on the lower end thereof which has a particular function.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,120,548 Manor relates to bins which serve domestic purposes and which may be kept in a cupboard or similar compartment.
It is known to suspend the bin from and alongside of a parallelogram four-bar-linkage. The rear one of the bars extends vertically and in parallel with the inner side of the door of the respective cupboard, and is adapted to be affixed to a doorpost or like stationary member. The opposite front bar of the four-bar-linkage is provided with means for removably affixing thereto the bin. Some kind of stop means has to be provided in order to arrest the system in the elevated position to prevent it from collapsing back under the weight of the loaded bin.
The provision of such stop means has caused inconvenience in the use of the device and increased the manufacturing costs thereof.
In the usual cases where the bin assembly is installed in a kitchen cupboard, the conventional arrangement did not provide for the interchangeability between right and left-hand mounting requisites. Hence, two different types of holder units had to be produced and sold separately to the public, and/or always readily available in inventory.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,120,548 to Manor teaches a displaceable garbage bin holder having a support frame swingable about a vertical axis provided at a rear side of the frame and a linkage system for the vertical displacement of the bin. The linkage system includes first, second, and third link-bars. The first link-bar is pivotably mounted at one end to the front end of the frame by a first journal. The second link-bar is pivotably mounted at one end to the front end of the frame by a second journal located below the first journal. The first link-bar is pivotably mounted to the opposite ends of the first and second link-bars by third and fourth journals, respectively. Means are provided for suspending a garbage-bin on the third link-bar and a handle for pivoting the linkage system about the first and second journals so that the third journal is displaced from a lower position to an elevated position beyond the upper dead-center of the linkage system defined by a line passing through the first and second journals for stably supporting the linkage system in an elevated position.
For interchangeability, the frame includes an upper frame-bar and a lower frame bar. The first and second link-bars are installed at one side of both the upper and lower frame-bars. The third link-bar extends across the opposite sides of the upper and lower frame-bars, respectively.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,005,729 to Hollman discloses a displaceable waste basket and shelf tray concealed within a cabinet when not is use. The device employs a recessed slide mechanism for displacing the tray from an extended position to a retracted position and vice versa. However, the device of the '729 patent does not permit the retraction of the tray and waste basket without closing the cabinet door because of the positive connection between the cabinet door and the tray made by the slide mechanism.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,215,363 to Warwick discloses a waster basket concealment system in which the waste basket has a cover hingedly secured
Brinkley McNerney et al.
Crosby, Esq. Kevin P.
Fitzgerald John
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