US3411659A - Garbage can cover - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 19,1968 SHFERT 3,411,659

GARBAGE CAN COVER Filed Oct. 2, 1967 I NVEN TOR.

FIRTHf/f? SE/ffRT B g/W W United States Patent 3,411,659 GARBAGE CAN COVER Arthur Seifert, P.O. Box 41, Sound View Station, New York, NY. 10472 Filed Oct. 2, 1967, Ser. No. 672,198 7 Claims. 01. 220-44 ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The cover of this invention is a plastic dome-shaped cover having a tapered lower edge or rim and provided with a handle capable of being gripped in any direction.

This invention relates to covers for outdoor garbage cans from which collections are made.

The usual garbage can cover is a metal, shallow diskshaped closure provided with a narrow annular rim to secure it to the top of the garbage can. As garbage cans are often filled to overflowing with garbage and refuse, covers of this type. cannot properly close the can so that such cans present an unsanitary and unsightly appearance and a health hazard. Such spilled and uncovered garbage provides a primary feed source for rodents who would find survival difficult without its availability and whose reproductive rate is directly related to such availability of food. Its availability also reduces the urge of stray cats to fulfill their natural role as predators of rodents. Further, covers of this type can be readily dislodged by strong winds and animals, especially when they become flattened or damaged out of their usual shape as too often occurs. When the can itself becomes damaged or bent out of shape in usage, this type of cover cannot properly be connected to and close the same. Further, such covers are quitenoisy in handling.

It is the primary purpose of this invention to provide an improved garbage can cover that is free of the disadvantages of the present type of cover used for this purpose.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide an improved cover which will adequately cover a garbage can even when the latter is packed beyond its capacity and thereby effectively function to promote healthy conditions and the decrease of rodents.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved cover which will fit the can more securely and cannot readily be dislodged by the elements or animals, yet can readily be removed by a person.

A further object of the invention is to provide a garbage can cover that can readily fit a number of cans of varying circumference, or cans that have been knocked out of shape, and is relatively noiseless when handled.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved garbage can cover that may be readily grasped and manipulated with respect to a can without danger of binding, and that is of such rugged construction that it can stand substantial rough handling and abuse without becoming distorted from its original shape.

Other objects of the invention as well as the advantages and features of novelty thereof will become apparent from the following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view on an enlarged scale of the top portion of a cover embodying the invention; and

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view, partly in section, of the cover of this invention.

In the drawings, the numeral 2 indicates generally the body of the cover. It will be noted from FIG. 2 of the drawings that the body 2 is semispherical in configuration and has a height approximating one-half the diameter of its lower edge, thereby providing a deeply constructed 3,411,659 Patented Nov. 19, 1968 cover. Consequently, even though a garbage can is packed beyond its capacity so that excess refuse and garbage is present above the top rim of the can even in substantial amount, the cover will enclose such excess. The cover body 2 is made of a suitable, resilient, flexible material which will enable it to retain its original shape even though subjected to severe shocks. Preferably, such material should be a known flexible plastic material, such as polyethylene, in order to give the cover the added advantage that it will be relatively noiseless even when roughly handled.

Even though the body of the cover is made of flexible material it possesses an inherent strength and an ability to retain its original shape even with rough handling and abuse because of the features now to be discussed. As indicated in FIG. 2 of the drawings the cover body 2 is provided with fluting 6, the flutes of which are arouatelyshaped and arrayed around the entire periphery of the cover. The lower end of the cover body 2 is provided with a rounded, upturned lip or flange 4 which is preferably thickened or beaded at its upper free edge. The lip 4, in addition to rigidifying the body 2, facilitates the placement and removal of the cover as it provides a means by which the cover can be grasped in performing these operations. Preferably small drain holes 3 are provided at the base of the lip 4 to enable rain water to readily drain from the annular groove formed between such lip and the cover body.

The upper central portion of the body 2 is formed to provide an annular recess 10 having a concave cross-sectional configuration and with the inner wall thereof inclining upwardly at a greater angle to the horizontal than the outer wall thereof and terminating in a circular edge that is located below the level of the ,outer edge of the recess 10. Drain holes 11 may be provided in the curved bottom of the recess 10'. Integral with the upper edge of the inner wall of annular recess 10 and located below the level of the outer edge of the recess 10, is a downwardly inclined slightly-convexly-shaped annular flange 9' definin g a central opening through which a lock member 8 of a hand grip 7 extends. It will be noted in FIG. 1 that the lock member 8 has a cross-sectional area intermediate its height greater than the area of the opening defined by the flange 9 so that such lock member 8 has to be forced through such opening. The lower surface of the lock member 8 is rounded to facilitate such insertion of the lock member. On the underside of the hand grip 7 adjacent to the lock member 8 and encircling the latter at its root, is an annular seat 12 for the flange 9. It will be noted that the seat 12 is shaped and arranged to cause the outer connected edge of flange 9 to engage the seat 12 as the hand grip 7 is forced through the opening defined by flange 9. Thus as the lock member 8 moves through such opening, the inner free edge of flange 9 will be caused to snap inwardly past the place of maximum cross-sectional area of such lock member 8, while the outer connected edge of such flange is securely held by the outer circular wall of such seat 12. The surfaces of the seat 12 will hold the fully seated flange 9 securely under tension. In this manner, the handle 7 is securely and permanently fastened to the cover body 2.

The hand grip 7 is circular and the body thereof is substantially sector-shaped in cross-section and has a convex outer surface which spans the recessed central portion of the body 2 and generally forms a continuation of the convex outer surface of the body 2. The diameter of the hand grip body is such that a person may readily insert his fingers into the recess .10 in gripping the hand grip 7. It will be observed that as a result of this handle construction, the cover may be readily grasped in a number of positions, and due to the fact that the handle and recess construction at this portion of the cover uniformly rigidities the cover body around its periphery, the cover can be readily removed or replaced without the danger of binding on the top of the can. The lower edge of the body 2 of the cover is tapered at 5 for a height of approximately four inches to facilitate the placement and removal of the cover, and to enable the cover to readily fit cans having substantial variations in their openings, or the openings of which are bent out of their original shape due to usage; thereby providing the cover with the quality of universalness such that it adapts itself readily to varied sizes and conditions of garbage cans. This tapered condition of the cover will enable it also to be more securely attached to the can thereby rendering it less likely to become dislodged by the elements or animals. When the garbage can is emptied the cover can readily be replaced either right side up or in upside down position and in either case the can will be adequately covered. When the cover is placed in upside down position on the can the lip 4 thereof will cooperate with the can opening to assure a proper closure and will also enable the ready removal of the cover to refill the can.

While I have illustrated in the drawings and hereinabove described a preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variations thereof may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, or the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A garbage can cover having at its lower end a seating edge portion enga-geable with the opening of a garbage can and composed of a deep body extending a material distance above its seating edge portion so that the cover will properly close a garbage can packed with an excess of material, said body being constituted of flexible resilient material, and formed in the region of said seating edge portion to provide a rigidifying portion around the periphery of the lower end thereof, the upper central portion of said cover being formed to provide an annular recess encircling a centrally located attaching means, and

a hand grip located in said annular recess and having a locking portion interengaged with said attaching means.

2. A garbage can cover as defined in claim 1, in which said body has a height approximating one-half the length of the diameter thereof at said seating edge portion thereof, and has a contour gradually diminishing in area toward the upper end thereof.

3. A garbage can cover as defined in claim 2, in which said body has a semi-spherical contour.

4. A garbage can cover as defined in claim 1, in which said seating edge portion thereof is frusto-conically-shaped to provide a tapered can opening seat.

5. A garbage can cover as defined in claim 1, in which said ri-gidifying portion is constituted of an upturned annular flange integrally connected to the lower edge of said seating edge portion and encircling the bottom edge portion of said cover body.

'6. A garbage can cover as defined in claim 1, in which said attaching means comprises an inturned annular flange connected at its outer edge to the inner edge of said annular recess and defining a central opening, and in which said locking element is inserted in said opening and interlocked with said flange.

7. A garbage can cover as defined in claim 1, in which said hand grip is circularly-shaped and has an outside diameter less than the diameter of the outer edge of said annular recess and such as to enable the fingers of a users hand grasping said hand grip to be inserted into said recess.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,602,564 7/1952 Ziskin et a1. 22094 X'R 2,751,107 6/1956 Ritter 220-42 3,361,290 1/1968 Matthews et al. 150--.5 XR

THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner.

G. T. HALL, Assistant Examiner.

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