Receptacles – Compartmented container – Closure for compartment
Patent
1996-03-20
1998-01-13
Moy, Joseph M.
Receptacles
Compartmented container
Closure for compartment
220524, B65D 4302
Patent
active
057069719
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a versatile trash container lid assembly having interchangeable insert plates to easily and inexpensively convert the lid for a variety of different uses.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Commercial refuse containers provide storage for substantial quantities of refuse prior to disposal at off-site locations such as landfills or incineration facilities. A typical commercial refuse container is a large, generally rectangular structure with an opening on top. One or more hinged lids swing down to cover the opening, thereby protecting the contents from the elements and preventing garbage odors from escaping.
A variety of commercial trash bin lids have been put into use to accommodate the needs of individual trash bin users. Some lids have been provided with an aperture to allow a user to dispose of small pieces of trash or recyclable material without having to lift the lid. The aperture has sometimes been covered by a small door, such as that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,456,141, issued to Pamment, which shows an aperture covered by a second lid.
Other lids provide more than one aperture so that a different type of recyclable material can be inserted into each aperture, thereby allowing easy segregation of the different materials. Yet another type of lid provides no open aperture, but does provide a fixed nameplate that displays the name of the owner of the containers.
The need to provide a variety of lids has created a problem for companies that lease commercial trash bin lids. When the lessee returns the bin to the company, the company must change the lid to meet the needs of the next user. So, for example, a county fair might need a fixed-nameplate lid for a few weeks. When the fair is over, the lessor may have to replace the fixed-nameplate lid with a lid having an aperture to meet the needs of an apartment complex that is renting the bin next. The constantly changing needs of the lessees force commercial trash bin lessors to maintain large and expensive inventories of lids. Similarly, an owner of an individual bin may have to pay for a new lid when he or she wants to put the bin to a new use.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the expense of purchasing and storing various different lids for use on a commercial trash bin, the present invention provides a single commercial trash bin lid that can be easily and inexpensively converted to alter the use of the lid.
The lid preferably includes at least two different modes. In a first mode, the lid is provided with a fixed insert plate which may advertise the name of the owner or user of the lid. In one or more additional modes, the lid may have an aperture at least partially closed by a plate, which still permits the insertion of trash through the opening.
In one alternative mode, a user may swing the plate to open the aperture, so that the user may input a small piece of trash without lifting the lid. In a third mode, the geometry of the plate and the lid may provide two or more openings. A user can then input a different type of recyclable material into each opening. In addition to these different modes, the lid should be easily converted into various modes to accommodate various needs as they arise.
In accordance with illustrative specific preferred embodiments of the invention, a commercial trash bin lid is provided with a standard size opening toward the front thereof. A plurality of interchangeable, mating insert plates are provided which may selectively be fitted into the standard size opening to accommodate a variety of uses for the commercial trash bin lid. More specifically, an insert plate may be: (1) in the form of a fixed insert plate which may also be a nameplate; (2) a spring biased hinged insert plate to permit the insertion of newspapers or the like through the hinged insert plate; or (3) provided with at least two spaced openings to receive different types of trash, such as recyclable cans and bottles.
In accordance with another feature of the invention, the commercial trash bin may have an i
REFERENCES:
patent: 3720346 (1973-03-01), Cypher
patent: 3749274 (1973-07-01), Mele et al.
patent: 4456141 (1984-06-01), Pamment
patent: 4598838 (1986-07-01), Zakrajsek
patent: 4771940 (1988-09-01), Taylor
patent: 4964523 (1990-10-01), Bieltvedt et al.
patent: 5033520 (1991-07-01), Kuehmichel
patent: 5044644 (1991-09-01), Duran et al.
patent: 5183180 (1993-02-01), Hawkins et al.
patent: 5193708 (1993-03-01), Prout et al.
patent: 5251775 (1993-10-01), Kruzick et al.
patent: 5447251 (1995-09-01), Taylor
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