US2998952A - Trash can and support assemblies - Google Patents

Description

Sept- 5, 19 1 J. c. WILLIAMS 2,998,952

TRASH CAN AND SUPPORT ASSEMBLIES Filed June 26, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 E'Hg-i INVENTOR. JOSE'AV C WILLIAMS BY ATTOE/VE V Sept. 5, 1961 J. c. WILLIAMS 2,998,952

TRASH cm AND SUPPORT ASSEMBLIES Filed June 26, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INV EN TOR.

J05 5P1! C! W/L L lAMS A TTOeIVE Y United States Patent 6 2,998,952 TRASH CAN AND SUPPORT ASSEMBLIES Joseph C. Williams, PD. Box 6711, San Antonio, Tex. Filed June 26, 1959, Ser. No. 823,119 1 Claim. (Cl. 248-156) This invention relates to novel trash can and support assemblies.

The primary object of the invention is to provide improved assemblies of this kind wherein the trash cans are rotatably and removably mounted on single groundanchored posts, above ground level, by means of hook formations or handle elements of the cans hooked on the posts, and by means of chocks on the lower 'part of the cans which bear against the posts and serve to guide and confine the cans to" rotation on the posts and, in conjunction with the frictional bearing of the handle hook formations on the cans, serve to prevent free and vagrant rotation of the cans around the posts. Advantages achieved by the said assemblies include positive resistance to the cans being overturned and their contents spilled on the ground, by such as high winds, foraging animals, and mischievous children, and prevention of rusting and corroding of the can bottoms by being supported out of contact with the ground.

Another object of the invention is to provide, in assemblies of the character indicated, hook formations for suspending the cans on the posts, which are simple and inconspicuous modifications of existing handle forms, and which do not consttiute undesirable projections, when the cans are off the posts, which would interfere with or render dangerous, normal handling of the cans.

A further object of the invention is to provide assemblies of the character indicated above whose constructions is uncomplex, are composed of a minimum number of simple and easily assembled, and which can be made in rugged and serviceable forms at relatively low cost.

Other important objects and advantageous features of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings, wherein, for purposes of illustration only, a specific form of the invention is set forth in detail.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a trash can of the type having side handles which are modified to provide suspension hooks, in accordance with the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation, partly insection, showing an assembly of the invention, involving the can of FIGURE 1, suspended as a post driven into the ground;

FIGURE 3 is top plan view of FIGURE 2, showing rotated positons of the can, in solid line and phantom lines;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmcntary'vertical transverse section taken on the line 44 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation, showing the hook-equipped can side handle in elevated, can-suspending position and in stop engagement with the side of the can, at a point above the swing axis of the handle;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary vertical section taken on the line 6-6 of FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary side elevation, portions being in section, of another assembly of the invention, involving a type trash can having a single bail handle, whose journal loops are modified, in accordance with the present invention, to provide suspension hooks to supportably engage the post; and

FIGURE 8 is afurther enlarged fragmentary side elevation of the cane! FIGURE 7, showing details of its hook formation.

Referring in detail to the drawings, wherein like and 2,998,952 Patented Sept. 5, 1961 ice related numerals designate like parts and related parts throughout the several views, and first to FIGURES l to 6, the numeral 10 generally designates the assembly therein shown, which comprises a preferably tubular perpendicular post 12, whose lower end is anchored, as by being driven into the ground G, and which is open at its upper end, as indicated at 14, so as to provide a socket 16 having a circular horizontal upper edge 17, the outer surface 18 of the post being cylindrical and smooth.

The assembly or combination 10 further comprises a generally conventional trash can 20, closed at its upper end by a cover 22, and having a band or rim 24 around the lower end of its side wall 26. Suitably fixed on diametrically opposed sides of the can side wall 26, on a level below the upper end of the can, are handle journal brackets 28. The brackets 28 can comprise plates 30 having, midway between their upper and lower ends, horizontal channels 32, which, with.the side wall 26, define journals for the straight upper journal elements 34 of handle rings 36, which have straight lower hand-grip elements 38, which normally bear against the can side wall 26, in down-swung, pendant positions which the handle rings normally assume.

In accordance with the present invention, these side handles are modified, to the extent of providing the upper ring elements 34, midway between the ends thereof, with laterally outwardly extending hooks 40, which are composed of straight shanks 41 which terminate at their outward ends in downwardly and inwardly angled terminals 42. The shanks 41 work freely but guidedly in circumferential slots 44 provided in the channels 32, whose upper ends 46 are disposed so as to permit the hooks 38 to assume upwardly angled positions, relative to the can side wall 26, as seen in FIGURES 2, 5 and 6, with the lower ring elements 36 close to and preferably bearing in stop engagement against the can side wall 26, at points spaced above the bracket plates 30.

As shown in FIGURES 2 and 4, the can 20 is suspended on the post 12 by lifting the can off the ground G and engaging the hook 38, at one side of the can, in lhc socket 16 in the upper end of the post 12, whercat the handle ring 36 becomes loosely circumposed on the post, and thereby serves as a safety ring, and then as a handle for disengaging the hook from the socket 16, in removing the can from the post.

As seen in FIGURES 2 and 4, the hooks 38 are of sufficient length that, when engaged in the post socket 16, the can is suspended on the post 12, at an outwardly and upwardly inclined angle, such that the lower part of the can 20 is gravitationally swung inwardly toward the post 12.

For guidingly holding the lower end of the can 20 relative to the post, there is suitably fixed, on one, or two diametrically opposed points of the band or rim 24, around the lower end of the can, a chock 48. The chock 48 preferably comprises a length 50 of strip metal which is secured, as indicated at 52, at its ends to the band or rim 24, and is formed intermediate its ends with a pair of laterally outwardly extending V-shaped projections 54, which define therebetween a V-shaped notch 56, to rotatably receive an adjacent side of the post 12, and whose sides 58 make frictional contact with the post, to preclude, in conjunction with the sliding and frictional engagement of a related hook 38, on the upper edge 17 of the post 12, to preclude vagrant rotation of the can 20 around the post. This arrangement also reduces the hazards of and renders easier the lifting of the can .20 and its hook 38 off the post 12, since this can be done, using one or both of the side handles, and keeping the guide chock 48 in guiding contact with the post 12 until the bottom of the can 20 has reached the ground G.

The form of assembly of the invention, shown in FIG- URES 7 and- 8, are 'generailydesignated 10a, involves an anchored perpendicular post 120, similarto the post 12, having a socket 16a in its upper end, defining a circular horizontal upper edge 17a. The can 20a in this assembly'difiers trom'the can 20, of FIGURES 1to'6, inahat side handles are absent, and a mingle bail handle 60 serves in their place.

Handle side brackets 28a 'are fixed on opposite'sides-ot the =ean 20a, like the brackets128,'and comprise plates 30a which have laterally outwardly projecting vertical ears 62 at their centers, *formed as by folding'the plates SOaJand journal holeaiflcl tormed in the cars .62. :The bail handle bale 64 formed at its ends with transverse vertical loope- 66 which havejournal portions 34a at their lower ends which are rotatably engagedthrough the'ear holes 82a. One side member 68 of the loops 66, which extend upwardly alongside of lower-endportions'of the'bail-M terminates at its upper end in laterally outwardly extending hook 40a, composed of a'straiglit, generally horlzontalshank 41a which terminates at'itaoutward end in a downwardly curved terminal Ma. The terminal-42a is adapted to be engaged in the socket 1640f the post 12a, with 'the dhank 41a bearing upon the upper 'edge'l'la 'of' the -post,fin the manher and for the purposes ofthe'hooks 'of FIGURES '1 'to6.

- A chock 48a, similar to the chock -48, iseecm'ed on' the 'band'fla on"the*lower'end'ot the can 20a'to engage the post "12a, .in the manner and for 'the-purpose'deeeribed in connection with FIGURES 1' to 6.

ifilthough there have beenmhownand described herein preferred forms of the invention, it is to be understood that .the invention .is .not necessarily .confined thereto. and that any change or changes in the structures of and in the relative arrangements of components thereof are contemplated as being within the scope of the invention as defined by .the .claim appended .hereto.

What. 'is.c1aimedjs:

An assembly comprising a perpendicular ground anchored post havingmtubularopen-npper end, a trash can having upper and lower ends, laterally projecting hook means'securedzto the can intermediate the ends of the can, said hook means being downwardly and freely =engagedeinrsaidrupper =end, :and 'a'fixed laterally projecting ChOCklOIlihellOWfil' end o'f'the can having a notch receiv ingtsaid post,5said:hook means comprising a downturned hook tiementand-ahandle loop'on which said hook element'iszcentered,the-handle loop being removably circumposed onthezpost.

References'Clted in'the 'file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 828,052 Pritchard Aug. 7. 1906 1944,777 :Feldman Dec. 28, 1909 1,569,663 Lawless Jan. 19, 1926 31.772392 Firl Aug. 5, 1930 --2;4Q0,Z77 'Wulstein May 6, 1947 2,448,456 'Niskanen Aug. 31, 1948 $508,258 Heinrich May 16, 1950 2,522,778 Cannon Sept. 19, 1950 2,582,906 Hendenbrand Jan. 15, 1952 "2-,Q29;5i2 McDougle Mar. 22, 1960

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