US20040149761A1

US20040149761A1 - Garbage receptacle

Info

Publication number: US20040149761A1
Application number: US10/356,814
Authority: US
Inventors: Curtis Smith
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-02-03
Filing date: 2003-02-03
Publication date: 2004-08-05

Abstract

A garbage receptacle that has a body having an inner surface, an outer surface positioned oppositely to the inner surface, a top end, a bottom end positioned oppositely to the top end, an opening located about the top end, the body being positioned between the top end and the bottom end. At least one aerodynamic feature is positioned about the body of the garbage receptacle wherein the at least one aerodynamic feature operates to re-direct air blowing about the garbage receptacle to thereby prevent the air from substantially moving the garbage receptacle out of position or from blowing the garbage receptacle away.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention herein is a garbage receptacle that has at least one aerodynamic feature positioned about the body of the garbage receptacle wherein the at least one aerodynamic feature operates to re-direct air blowing about the garbage receptacle to thereby prevent the air from substantially moving the garbage receptacle out of position, i.e., from blowing the garbage receptacle down or away.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The problem of falling and lost trash receptacles is nearly as ancient as the home owner herself. No two worse scenes for the home owner exist than to see her trash cans blown over with trash dispersed to the four winds all over her yard, and subsequently fielded like a buffet line for the local vermin; or when, after a full day's work, the home owner comes home to find her trash receptacles either completely missing because they have been blown down the proverbial street or blown into the middle of said street just in time for rush hour traffic.

These wind and weather induced dilemmas, while frustrating at best, can cause some major problems. First, blown over receptacles that are stocked with the trash can draw many unwanted pests to one's property; e.g., raccoons, mice, rats, bears etc. Second, garbage receptacles blown into the street, especially a moderately or highly trafficked street, could cause accidents that might cause injury to passengers attempting to avoid the receptacles or to the home owner herself as she seeks to retrieve the garbage receptacles from the street.

To circumvent these problems those of skill in the art have responded by creating bigger, bulkier and heavier trash cans. The thinking has been that the heavier it is, the less it will be prone to fall over and/or blow away. These efforts have been met with mixed success. Firstly, many property homeowners, especially home owners, do not want large, bulky receptacles that, when placed outside, take away from the aesthetic appeal of their home. Secondly, a bigger, bulkier, heavier trash receptacle is harder to move from the house to the street curb where most trash is picked up on the eagerly awaited and anticipated “trash day”.

To these ends it is desirable to solve the problems associated with disappearing trash receptacles and spilled trash, while at the same time controlling the aesthetic appeal of one's home from the look of monstrous, dumpster-sized trash receptacles.

It is therefore an object herein to provide a trash receptacle that will substantially resist blow-over when the receptacle is in its upright position, whether filled with trash or not.

It is another object herein to provide a trash receptacle that will not move substantially from its laying position when it is no longer upright but lays on one or more of its sides.

It is an additional object herein to provide a trash receptacle that has significant movement resistant properties (i.e., movement induced by wind) wherein the receptacle is of a “normalized” size not having its movement resistant properties substantially provided by increased weight, size or bulk.

It is a final object herein to provide a trash receptacle that does not significantly detract from the aesthetic appeal of real property when positioned adjacent thereto by virtue of an oversized or bulky exterior.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the invention comprises a garbage receptacle that has a body having an inner surface, an outer surface positioned oppositely to the inner surface, a top end, a bottom end positioned oppositely to the top end, an opening located about the top end, the body being positioned between the top end and the bottom end. At least one aerodynamic feature is positioned about the body of the garbage receptacle wherein the at least one aerodynamic feature operates to re-direct air blowing about the garbage receptacle to thereby prevent the air from substantially moving the garbage receptacle out of position (or “from blowing the garbage receptacle away”).

In one embodiment herein, at least two aerodynamic features are positioned on the outer surface of the body of the garbage receptacle. Preferably, the aerodynamic feature is a wing positioned adjacent to the top end of the body. In another embodiment herein, the aerodynamic feature may be a dual-wing substantially positioned adjacent to the top end of the body.

In practice, the garbage receptacle will remain substantially immovable within air (e.g., outside on a blustery fall day) flowing at between about 5 mph to about 80 mph. Preferably, the garbage receptacle will remain substantially immovable within air flowing at between about 10 mph to about 50 mph. More preferably, the garbage receptacle will remain substantially immovable within air flowing at between about 15 mph to about 35 mph.

In one preferred embodiment, the garbage receptacle, when in an upright position, will not substantially resist movement from the flow of air. In other words, air or wind may blow the receptacle over to a side thereof, but then substantially resist movement from the air from its blown over position; this movement is defined as roll-over. In another embodiment herein, the garbage receptacle may resist blow over, i.e., the tendency to be knocked over by air or wind. Alternatively, the garbage receptacle further comprises a laying position that substantially resists movement from the flow of air.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

While the specification concludes with claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which is regarded as forming the present invention, it is believed that the invention will be better understood from the following descriptions which are taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like designations are used to designate substantially identical elements, and in which: [0014]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the garbage receptacle; [0015]
FIG. 2 is a planar view of the front of the garbage receptacle of FIG. 1; [0016]
FIG. 3 is a planar view of the side of the garbage receptacle of FIG. 2; and [0017]
FIG. 4 is a top view of the opening of the garbage receptacle of FIG. 3.[0018]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

By the term “blow-over” it is meant herein the phenomena wherein a garbage receptacle, standing in an upright position, is knocked over or knocked down by the action of strong wind forcing the garbage receptacle over. [0019]
By the term “roll-over” it is meant herein the phenomena wherein a garbage receptacle positioned in a laying position, e.g., on its side, is moved rotationally about its central axis in a rolling fashion. [0020]
The invention comprises a garbage receptacle that has a body having an inner surface, an outer surface positioned oppositely to the inner surface, a top end, a bottom end positioned oppositely to the top end, an opening located about the top end, the body being positioned between the top end and the bottom end. At least one aerodynamic feature is positioned about the body of the garbage receptacle wherein the at least one aerodynamic feature operates to re-direct air blowing about the garbage receptacle to thereby prevent the air from substantially moving the garbage receptacle out of position (or “from blowing the garbage receptacle away”). As is shown in FIG. 1 at least one, and preferably two, [0021] aerodynamic features 20 are positioned about the body 22 of the garbage receptacle 10. The features 20 serve to re-direct air flow about the body 22 such that the receptacle 10, when positioned in an upright position, will not blow over when the receptacle 10 is empty, full or partially full.
Similarly, the [0022] aerodynamic features 20 serve to keep the receptacle 10, positioned on at least one of its sides, will not blow away from its original positioning. The design of the aerodynamic features 20 then therefore preferably serve to prevent blow-over of the receptacle 10 in its upright position and also the blowing away of the receptacle 10 when in its laying position. By the term “laying position” herein it is meant that position when the receptacle 20 is not in its upright position and is positioned on one or more of its sides; e.g., the front side 30 of the receptacle 10 (FIG. 2).
As was noted previously, at least two aerodynamic features may be positioned on the [0023] outer surface 23 of the body of the garbage receptacle. Preferably, the aerodynamic feature is a wing positioned adjacent to the top end of the body. In another embodiment herein, the aerodynamic feature may be a dual-wing substantially positioned adjacent to the top end of the body.
In a preferred embodiment herein, the [0024] garbage receptacle 10, when in an upright position, will not substantially resist movement from the flow of air. In other words, air or wind may blow the receptacle 10 over to a side thereof, but then substantially resist movement from the air from its blown over position; i.e., substantially resist roll-over. When blown-over, Applicant contemplates the blowing over of an empty garbage receptacle 10, e.g., emptied after the trash therein has been deposited on trash day.
In another embodiment herein, the [0025] garbage receptacle 10 will preferably remain substantially immovable within air (e.g., outside on a blustery fall day) flowing at between about 5 mph to about 80 mph. Preferably, the garbage receptacle 10 will remain substantially immovable within air flowing at between about 10 mph to about 50 mph. More preferably, the garbage receptacle 10 will remain substantially immovable within air flowing at between about 15 mph to about 35 mph.
The [0026] garbage receptacle 10, when in an upright position, may substantially resist movement from the flow of air. More specifically, the garbage receptacle 10 may substantially resist blow-over. This alternative embodiment can be brought about by the action of the aerodynamic features 20 and/or a base (not shown) that can be added to a garbage receptacle to provide greater stability.
Alternatively, one or more of the [0027] aerodynamic features 20 may serve as a handle for moving the receptacle 10. A handle 25 may be placed onto a feature 20 or the handle 25 may be cut into the feature 20. Also alternatively, wheels 40 for moving (i.e., “wheeling”) the receptacle about may also be placed at or near the base 50 of the receptacle 10.
The disclosures of all patents, patent applications (and any patents which issue thereon, as well as any corresponding published foreign patent applications), and publications mentioned throughout this patent application are hereby incorporated by reference herein. It is expressly not admitted, however, that any of the documents incorporated by reference herein teach or disclose the present invention. It is also expressly not admitted that any of the commercially available materials or products described herein teach or disclose the present invention.[0028]

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A garbage receptacle, comprising:

A body having an inner surface, an outer surface positioned oppositely to the inner surface, a top end, a bottom end positioned oppositely to the top end, an opening located about the top end, the body being positioned between the top end and the bottom end; and

at least one aerodynamic feature positioned about the body of the garbage receptacle wherein the at least one aerodynamic feature operates to re-direct air blowing about the garbage receptacle to thereby prevent the air from substantially moving the garbage receptacle out of position.

2. The garbage receptacle of claim 1 wherein at least two aerodynamic features are positioned on the outer surface of the body.

3. The garbage receptacle of claim 1 wherein the aerodynamic feature is a wing positioned adjacent near to the top end of the body.

4. The garbage receptacle of claim 1 wherein the aerodynamic feature is a dual-wing substantially positioned adjacent to the top end of the body.

5. The garbage receptacle of claim 1 wherein the garbage receptacle remains substantially immovable within air flowing at between about 5 mph to about 80 mph.

6. The garbage receptacle of claim 5 wherein the garbage receptacle remains substantially immovable within air flowing at between about 10 mph to about 50 mph.

7. The garbage receptacle of claim 6 wherein the garbage receptacle remains substantially immovable within air flowing at between about 15 mph to about 35 mph.

8. The garbage receptacle of claim 1 wherein the garbage receptacle further comprises an upright position that substantially resists movement from the flow of air.

9. The garbage receptacle of claim 8 in the upright position wherein the body substantially resists blow-over.

10. The garbage receptacle of claim 1 wherein the garbage receptacle further comprises a laying position that substantially resists movement from the flow of air.

11. The garbage receptacle of claim 10 wherein the garbage receptacle substantially resists roll-over from the flow of air.