US20060081636A1

US20060081636A1 - Litterbin

Info

Publication number: US20060081636A1
Application number: US10/964,662
Authority: US
Inventors: Viktor Lin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-10-15
Filing date: 2004-10-15
Publication date: 2006-04-20

Abstract

A litterbin, in particular a litterbin which has no inner barrel design, has an additional positioning mechanism for maintaining a litterbag, and is advantageous in that the litterbag will not be exposed to the outside thereof and will not slip, and the manufacturing cost thereof can be reduced. The litterbin includes a barrel body having an opening edge with a positioning mechanism mounted on said opening edge. The positioning mechanism includes a frame mounted on said opening edge and having plural positioning elements thereon, and a ring component positioned on said frame through each of said positioning elements. In this case, the ring component is surrounded by a litterbag so that the litterbag can be tightly clipped between said ring component and each of plural positioning elements on said frame.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is related to a litterbin, and more particularly to a litterbin having no inner barrel design and an additional positioning mechanism for maintaining a litterbag, which litterbin is advantageous in that the litterbag will not be exposed to the outside thereof and will not slip and the manufacturing cost thereof can be reduced.
2. Description of Related Art
It is normal that people may place a litterbag inside a litterbin for facilitating removal of litter thrown into the litterbin when cleaning up.
However, as shown in FIG. 1, the conventional litterbin 1, comprising an outer barrel 11, an inner barrel 12 inside the outer barrel 11, and a cover 13 covering the outer barrel 11, may have the described litterbag 2 placed inside while still leaving the litterbag exposed for positioning on the opening of the litterbin 1. An exposed portion 21 of the litterbag 2 can thus be observed even after the cover 13 has been closed. Obviously, this is aesthetically displeasing, and further permits the litterbag 2 to slip, thus inconveniencing the user. Furthermore, in this conventional litterbin 1, the inner barrel 12 is an additional element since people always put a litterbag instead. The inner barrel 12 thus increases the total weight and cost of the litterbin 1. Additionally, because of the inner space occupied by the inner barrel 12, the space of the litterbin 1 that can be actually used is also reduced.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the litterbin according to the present invention is to provide efficient placement of the litterbag in the barrel, whereby the litterbag is positioned so as to avoid slipping and is not exposed on the exterior thereof for a less offensive visual effect.
For achieving the object above, the present invention provides a litterbin, which includes a barrel body having an opening edge, and a positioning mechanism mounted on the opening edge. The positioning mechanism includes a frame mounted on the opening edge and having plural positioning elements thereon, and a ring component positioned on the frame through each of the positioning elements.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing aspects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will be more readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the conventional litterbin after a litterbag has been placed inside;
FIG. 2 is a schematic, three-dimensional exploded view of a litterbin according to the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a schematic, three-dimensional exploded view of a positioning mechanism of the litterbin according to the present invention;
FIG. 4 is a schematic, partial three-dimensional assembling view showing a ring component (5), which has been pivotally connected to a frame 4 and is in a lifted-up state, of the litterbin according to the present invention;
FIG. 5 is a schematic, cross-sectional view showing two methods for placing litterbag inside the litterbin according to the present invention;
FIG. 6 is a schematic, partial three-dimensional view showing two states of the ring component (5) of the litterbin according to the present invention, in one of which the ring component (5) is pressed down to engage with the frame (4) and another of which the ring component (5) is pressed down but not engaged;
FIG. 7 is another schematic, partial three-dimensional view showing the ring component (5) totally been pressed down to engage with the frame (4);
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view according to a 8-8 section shown in FIG. 6;
FIG. 9 is a perspective drawing from the view direction 9 shown in FIG. 6; and
FIG. 10 is a schematic, three-dimensional view showing another embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Reference is made to FIGS. 2 to 4, showing a litterbin provided by the present invention. The litter bin includes a barrel body 3 and a positioning mechanism 400 for positioning a litterbag, and preferably, the litterbin according to the present invention further includes a covering body 6 for covering. The barrel body 3 has an opening edge 31 and the positioning mechanism 400 further includes a frame 4 and a ring element 5. The described covering body 6 covers the opening edge 31 of the barrel body 3.
The frame 4 is mounted on the opening edge 31 and is bridge-connected by a linking beam 44, which separates the frame 4 into two frame portions. The linking beam 44 of the frame 4 further has two second positioning elements 42 mounted thereon, a third positioning element 43 located between the two second positioning elements 42, and plural first positioning elements 41 mounted at other positioning on the frame 4.
In addition, each of the first positioning elements 41 is a protruding bar 410 with one single slit 411, each of the second positioning elements 42 is a bulge 420 with a first and a second slits 421, 422 simultaneously, and the third positioning element 43 is a protrusion 430 having a covering shape at the top and a first and a second longitudinal trenches 431, 432 simultaneously. Furthermore, the third positioning element 43 also has a first and a second transverse trenches 433, 434 located at two sides thereof, and the first and second transverse trenches 433, 434 respectively communicate with the first and second longitudinal trenches 431, 432. With regard to a bottom of the frame 4, plural blocking elements 45 are mounted thereon.
The ring component 5 includes two ring bodies 51, 52, each of which has a shape identical to the two separated “frame portions” by the linking beam 44. The two ring bodies 51, 52, using one side thereof, are respectively assembled into the corresponding first and second transverse trenches 433, 434 of the third positioning element 43, and then, the two ring bodies 51, 52 are lifted up for engaging the respective sides into the longitudinal trenches 431, 432, as shown by the ring body 51 in right-hand part of FIG. 8, so that the two ring bodies 51, 52 can be pivotally connected to the third positioning element 43 and the two ring bodies 51, 52 can respectively be located at a lifted-up position as shown in FIG. 4.
The positioning mechanism 400, which is pivotally connected by the ring component 5, is mounted at the opening edge 31 of the barrel body 3. Because the opening edge 31 of the barrel body 3 is in a shape of inward-protruding edge (e.g., it can be formed by inwardly rolling the edge), the bottom of the frame 4 of the positioning mechanism 400 is positioned by means of each blocking element 45 hooking the inward-protruding opening edge 31. Reference is also made to FIG. 8. The components described so far constitute the inventive litterbin.
Reference is made to FIG. 5, which simultaneously discloses two methods for placing litterbags, both performed when the ring bodies 51, 52 are lifted up. The lifted-up position of the two ring bodies 51, 52 for facilitating litterbag placement can be seen in FIG. 4. A level state of the ring body 51 is shown in the right-hand part of FIG. 6. An engaged position of the two ring bodies 51, 52 with each of the positioning elements 41-43 for fixedly and exactly positioning the litterbag, can be seen in FIG. 7 and the left-hand part of FIG. 6.
As shown by the ring body 51 in the right-hand part of FIG. 5, in the first placement method, the lifted-up ring body 51 is surrounded by the edge of the litterbag 2 from inside to outside until the edge is placed under the ring body 51. The ring body 51 is then pivotally pressed down to be the level state shown in the right-hand part of FIG. 8, and the ring body 51 is further pressed down for engagement into each positioning element 41-43, as shown in the left-hand part of FIG. 8, so that the litterbag 2 is clipped between the ring body 51 and the right “frame portion”.
As shown by the ring body 52 in the left-hand part of FIG. 5, in the second placement method, the lifted-up ring body 52 is surrounded by the edge of the litterbag 2 from outside to inside until the edge is placed under the ring body 52. The ring body 52 is then pivotally pressed down to the level state shown in the right-hand part of FIG. 8, and the ring body 52 is further pressed down for engagement into each positioning element 41-43, as shown in the left-hand part of FIG. 8 so that the litterbag 2 is clipped between the ring body 52 and the left “frame portion”. These two methods both achieve the identical effect, and thus, which one will be performed depends on the user.
Reference is made to FIGS. 8-9 and also further to FIG. 3. The actual movements of the two ring bodies 51, 52 to engage into each positioning element 41-43 are as follows. First, the two ring bodies 51, 52 are pivoted to the level state. The level ring bodies 51, 52 are then forced to insert into each slit 411, each first and second slits 421, 422, and the lower portions of the first and second longitudinal trenches 431, 432, respectively, of each positioning element 41-43 for positioning.
Certainly, the frame 4 also can be integrally formed with the opening edge 31 of the barrel body in one piece so that the blocking element 45 is not needed. The linking beam 44 of the frame 4 also can only have the second positioning elements 42 mounted thereon without mounting the third positioning element 43, through which the two ring bodies 51, 52 still can be fixedly engaged and also can be pivoted via the first or the second slit 421, 422 of the second positioning elements. Furthermore, the ring component 5 certainly can be one single ring to engage with each first positioning element 41 on the frame 4; in other words, the linking beam 44 and the second and third positioning elements 42, 43 of the frame 4 correspondingly become unnecessary. However, in this manner, there is only one ring body of the ring component 5 is fixed on the opening edge 31, and thus, there only one litterbag can be placed in the barrel body 3. Besides, the ring component 5, which cannot be pivoted, is a little inconvenient.
In addition, for matching the linking beam 44 of the positioning mechanism 400, inside the barrel body 3 may further form a detachable partition (not shown) for facilitating to place two litterbags therein.
Reference is made to FIG. 10, which illustrates another embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the covering body 6 further includes a sub-cover 61 mounted thereon, and between the sub-cover 61 and the covering body 6, a one-touch button is formed. Certainly, the barrel body 3 may also include a pedal (not shown), customarily for opening the covering body 6 or the sub-cover 61 thereby.
As described above, because a positioning mechanism 400 according to the present invention exactly and fixedly engages the litterbag 2, and the conventional inner barrel is unnecessary. Both the weight and the cost of the litterbin can be reduced and the inner space for accommodating litter may be utilized more efficiently. Furthermore, owing to the particular structure design of the positioning mechanism 400, the edge of the litterbag 2 will no longer be exposed to the outside the litterbin for a more pleasing visual effect. Moreover, owing to the particular structure design of the positioning mechanism 400, the litterbag 2 can be actually fixed and the problem of slipping is resolved.
As can be seen from the above, a litterbin according to the present invention, which can exactly solve the defects in the prior arts, is really a product with a highly practical value and also has an increment of efficiency.
It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.

Claims

1. A litterbin comprising:

a barrel body having an opening edge; and

a positioning mechanism mounted on said opening edge and comprising:

a frame mounted on said opening edge and having a plurality of positioning elements thereon; and

a ring component positioned on said frame through each of said positioning elements.

2. The litterbin according to claim 1, wherein said frame of said positioning mechanism is assembled on said opening edge of said barrel body, and said frame further comprises a plurality of blocking elements mounted at a bottom thereof, each of said blocking elements being blocked with an inward-protruding shape of said opening edge of said barrel body.

3. The litterbin according to claim 1, wherein said positioning mechanism is integrally formed on said opening edge of the barrel body in one piece.

4. The litterbin according to claim 1, wherein each of said positioning elements mounted on said frame of said positioning mechanism is a protruding bar with a slit, and said ring component is engaged into each said slit for fixing.

5. The litterbin according to claim 1, wherein said frame of said positioning mechanism further has a linking beam with a bridge connected thereto and separating said frame into two frame portions, and wherein said ring component further comprises two ring bodies and said linking beam also comprises said plurality of positioning elements mounted thereon wherein each of the ring bodies is engaged with each of said plural positioning elements mounted on each of said frame portions and on said linking beam, for being fixed.

6. The litterbin according to claim 5, wherein each of said plurality of positioning elements mounted on said linking beam is a second positioning element with a bulge and said bulge further comprises a first slit and a second slit, said first slit being engaged with one of said two ring bodies and said second slit being engaged with another ring body.

7. The litterbin according to claim 5, wherein said positioning element mounted on said linking beam is a third positioning element and said third positioning element comprises a protrusion having a first and a second longitudinal trenches mounted thereinside and a first and a second transverse trenches located at two sides thereof, said first and second transverse trenches respectively communicating with said first and second longitudinal trenches so that each of said ring bodies is respectively engaged into said first and second longitudinal trenches via said first and second transverse trenches.

8. The litterbin according to claim 5, wherein said barrel body further comprises a detachable partition mounted at a position correspondingly matching that of said linking beam.

9. The litterbin according to claim 1, further comprising a covering body covering said opening edge of said barrel body.

10. The litterbin according to claim 9, wherein said covering body further comprises a sub-cover, wherein said sub-cover is opened through a one-touch button.