Apparatus for covering refuse receptacles

Abstract

A container cover for covering otherwise open containers, such as recycle bins, includes a mesh material bounded by a flexible elastic cord that allows for adaptation of the container cover to containers of various sizes and shapes. A handle mechanism connected to the mesh material or to the elastic cord provides for quick removal of the container cover from a container and a securing mechanism provides for permanent attachment of the container cover to a container.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A container cover comprising: 
 a flexible material having a periphery;    an elastic member disposed around the periphery of the flexible material; and    a tension adjusting apparatus disposed on the elastic member adapted to adjust tension applied by the elastic member.    
     
     
         2 . The container cover according to  claim 1 , further including a quick release handle disposed on the container cover.  
     
     
         3 . The container cover according to  claim 2 , further including a securing mechanism.  
     
     
         4 . The container cover according to  claim 1 , further including a securing mechanism.  
     
     
         5 . The container cover according to  claim 4 , wherein the securing mechanism is a one-way-adjustable tie.  
     
     
         6 . The container cover according to  claim 4 , wherein the securing mechanism is selected from the group consisting of: a snap combination, a button combination, a hook and loop fastener combination, and an adhesive.  
     
     
         7 . The container cover according to  claim 1 , wherein the flexible material is a mesh material.  
     
     
         8 . The container cover according to  claim 1 , wherein the flexible material includes a seam that is adapted to house the elastic member so that the elastic material is disposed around substantially the entire periphery of the flexible material.  
     
     
         9 . The container cover according to  claim 1 , wherein the tension adjusting apparatus is a spring loaded cinch clasp.  
     
     
         10 . The container cover according to  claim 1 , wherein the elastic member is a flexible elastic cord.  
     
     
         11 . The container cover according to  claim 10 , wherein the elastic cord has two free ends.  
     
     
         12 . The container cover according to  claim 11 , wherein the two free ends accept at least one spring loaded cinch clasp.  
     
     
         13 . The container cover according to  claim 1 , wherein the flexible material is rectangular in shape and has four edges and four corners.  
     
     
         14 . The container cover according to  claim 13 , wherein each of the four edges include an independent seam adapted to house the elastic member.  
     
     
         15 . The container cover according to  claim 14 , wherein the elastic member is housed within the independent seams and includes an exposed portion at each of the corners of the flexible material.  
     
     
         16 . The container cover according to  claim 15 , wherein the elastic member is a flexible elastic cord.  
     
     
         17 . The container cover according to  claim 16 , wherein one of the exposed portions includes two free ends of the elastic cord.  
     
     
         18 . The container cover according to  claim 17 , wherein the two free ends accept a spring loaded cinch clasp.  
     
     
         19 . The container cover according to  claim 15 , further including a quick release handle disposed on one of the exposed portions of the elastic member.  
     
     
         20 . The container cover according to  claim 15 , further including a securing mechanism disposed on one of the exposed portions of the elastic member.  
     
     
         21 . The container cover according to  claim 15 , wherein the tension adjusting apparatus is disposed on one of the exposed portions of the elastic member.  
     
     
         22 . An apparatus adapted to cover a container comprising: 
 a flexible, rectangular-shaped material having four corners and four edges;    an independent seam disposed at each of the four edges;    an elastic member housed in the independent seams and having an exposed portion at each of the corners of the flexible material; and    a tension adjusting device disposed on the elastic member adapted to adjust the tension applied by the elastic member.    
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein the tension adjusting device is a spring loaded cinch clasp.  
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein the elastic member has two ends that extend from one or more of the independent seams, wherein the two ends accept the tension adjusting device.  
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , further including a quick release handle disposed on the apparatus.  
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , further including a securing mechanism disposed on the apparatus.  
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein the flexible material is a mesh material.  
     
     
         28 . A method of covering a container with a flexible material having an elastic member coupled to a periphery of the flexible material to define an expandable opening, comprising: 
 expanding the opening to a size sufficient to receive the container;    placing the material over the container so that the opening surrounds an open side of the container defined by one or more container walls;    releasing the opening so that the elastic material engages the one or more container walls; and    adjusting a tension adjusting apparatus disposed on the elastic member to either increase or decrease tension applied by the elastic member to the one or more container walls.    
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein adjusting the tension adjusting apparatus includes manipulating a spring loaded clasp.  
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein expanding the opening includes manipulating a quick release handle disposed on the container cover.  
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 28 , further including securing the container cover to the container using a securing mechanism.  
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 28 , further including removing the container cover from the container.  
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein removing the container cover includes manipulating a quick release handle disposed on the container cover.