Trash can boot

Abstract

A covering or boot is adapted to removably fit upon the lower portion of a tall narrow garbage can. The specialized garbage can, commonly used in the restaurant industry to fit in confined areas, is called a “slim jim” and often made of soft plastic. Due to the capacity of the slim jim and the high density refuse of the restaurant industry, many restaurant staff tip and drag the full slim jim across the floor. By dragging the full trash container, the bottom portion of the slim jim is worn down in a relatively short period of time. A snug protective boot, with a base and vertical sides, may be attached to the lower portion of the slim jim without interfering with the slim jim's normal operation. The boot may optionally have rounded corners. The boot may also be fitted with wheels.

1 . A system for protecting the lower portion of a garbage can, said system comprising: 
 a garbage can; and    a boot having a base with a plurality of vertically rising sides, each side connected to an adjacent side, said sides and base forming a void sized and contoured to snugly fit upon the bottom portion of said garbage can;    wherein the boot is removably attached to the bottom portion of said garbage can.    
   
   
       2 . The system for protecting the lower portion of a garbage can of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said garbage can is a slim jim; and    said boot removably attaches to the bottom portion of the slim jim without interfering with the normal operation of the slim jim.    
   
   
       3 . The system for protecting the lower portion of a garbage can of  claim 2  wherein said slim jim has a rectangular base.  
   
   
       4 . The system for protecting the lower portion of a garbage can of  claim 3 , wherein said base has a central vertical hole, such that the base forms a supporting shelf extending inward from said sides.  
   
   
       5 . The system for protecting the lower portion of a garbage can of  claim 4 , wherein the boot is of non-metallic construction.  
   
   
       6 . The system for protecting the lower portion of a garbage can of  claim 5 , wherein said boot is constructed of molded plastic.  
   
   
       7 . The system for protecting the lower portion of a garbage can of  claim 6 , wherein said boot is made of ceramic plastic.  
   
   
       8 . The system for protecting the lower portion of a garbage can of  claim 5 , wherein said boot is constructed of molded rubber.  
   
   
       9 . The system for protecting the lower portion of a garbage can of  claim 2 , wherein said base has a central vertical hole, such that the base forms a shelf extending inward from said sides to support the slim jim bottom.  
   
   
       10 . The system for protecting the lower portion of a garbage can of  claim 9 , wherein the boot is of non-metallic construction.  
   
   
       11 . The system for protecting the lower portion of a garbage can of  claim 10 , wherein said boot is constructed of molded plastic.  
   
   
       12 . The system for protecting the lower portion of a garbage can of  claim 11 , wherein said boot is made of ceramic plastic.  
   
   
       13 . The system for protecting the lower portion of a garbage can of  claim 10 , wherein the boot is constructed of rubber.  
   
   
       14 . The system for protecting the lower portion of a garbage can of  claim 1 , wherein the sides of said boot extend vertically, from the bottom of the juncture of the base and the sides to the top of the sides, at least two inches.  
   
   
       15 . The system for protecting the lower portion of a garbage can of  claim 2 , wherein the sides of said boot extend vertically from the bottom of the juncture of the base and the sides to the top of the sides approximately six inches.  
   
   
       16 . A boot to protect the bottom portion of tall narrow garbage can comprising: 
 a boot having a base with a plurality of vertically rising sides, each side connected to an adjacent side, said walls and base forming a void sized and contoured to snugly fit upon the bottom portion of said garbage can; and    said vertically rising sides forming a plurality of exterior corners with said base, wherein at least one of the exterior corners is rounded;    wherein the boot is removably attached to the bottom portion of said garbage can.    
   
   
       17 . The boot of  claim 16  wherein: 
 said boot has four sides to fit a four-sided slim jim; and    said boot is non-metallic.    
   
   
       18 . The boot of  claim 17  wherein: 
 said boot is constructed of ceramic plastic;    the sides of said boot extend vertically, from the bottom of the exterior juncture of the base and the sides to the top of the sides, approximately six inches.    
   
   
       19 . The boot of  claim 18 , wherein said base has a central vertical hole, such that the base forms a supporting shelf extending inward from said sides.  
   
   
       20 . A boot to protect the bottom portion of tall narrow garbage can comprising: 
 a boot having a base with a plurality of vertically rising sides, each side connected to an adjacent side, said walls and base forming a void sized and contoured to snugly fit upon the bottom portion of a slim jim;    said base having a central vertical hole such that the base forms a supporting shelf extending inward from said sides; and    said boot having a set of parallel wheels mounted on the same axial plane with said wheels being mounted within recesses in the sides of the boot in such a manner as to allow the wheels to engage the floor when the boot is tipped;    whereby the boot is removably attached to the bottom portion of said slim jim without interfering with the normal operation of the slim jim;