Trashcan door actuation system

Abstract

The invention can be generally characterized as a system that allows a user of a trashcan to throw away their items while minimizing their contact with a contaminated surface of a trashcan. In one preferred embodiment, the invention provides a handle that is adapted to couple to a trashcan door so that the trashcan door may be opened without actually touching the trashcan door surface.

1 . An inventive trashcan door system, comprising: 
 a trashcan door; and    a trashcan door handle coupled to the trashcan door.    
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the handle comprises a grip and lever portion and a trashcan door portion coupled to the grip and lever portion, wherein the trashcan door portion is adapted to couple to the trashcan door.  
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the trashcan door and the handle define two parts of a single piece of material.  
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the trashcan door is a vertically mounted trashcan door.  
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 4  wherein the handle is mounted such that the handle extends vertically downward.  
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 4  wherein the handle is mounted such that the handle extends vertically upward.  
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 6  wherein the handle is coupled to the trashcan door via at least one screw.  
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the front of the grip and lever portion of the trashcan door form an approximately 25-degree angle.  
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the trashcan door is generally a rectangle less than 24-inches horizontally by 18 inches vertically.  
   
   
       10 . A trashcan door handle, comprising: 
 a grip and lever portion; and    a trashcan door portion coupled to the grip and lever portion wherein the trashcan door portion is adapted to couple to a trashcan door.    
   
   
       11 . The handle of  claim 10  wherein the grip and lever portion and the trashcan door portion define two parts of a single piece of material.  
   
   
       12 . The handle of  claim 10  wherein the trashcan door portion is adapted to couple to a trashcan door via screws.  
   
   
       13 . The handle of  claim 10  wherein the trashcan door portion is adapted to couple to a trashcan door via an adhesive.  
   
   
       14 . The handle of  claim 10  wherein the trashcan door portion is adapted to couple to a trashcan door via an epoxy.  
   
   
       15 . The handle of  claim 10  wherein the trashcan door portion is adapted to couple to a trashcan door such that the grip and lever portion is oriented upward.  
   
   
       16 . The handle of  claim 10  wherein the trashcan door portion is adapted to couple to a trashcan do