Trash can receptacle

Abstract

A trash receptacle is provided and adapted for use with disposable trash bags. The receptacle includes an elongated, substantially vertically orientated housing having a side body portion defining an interior compartment, a base portion, and an open top portion for providing access to the interior compartment. A pair of adjacent side wall elements extend from the base portion to the top portion and forms part of the side body portion. Each side wall element has first and second vertical side edges, with the first vertical side edge of each side wall element abutting the first vertical side edge of the adjacent side wall element. A plurality of hinge members secure the second vertical side edges of each side wall element to the remainder of the side body portion for outward pivotal movement relative to the interior compartment. The side elements are movable between a closed position for sealing the side body portion around the interior compartment, and an open position for providing selective side access to the interior compartment. A cover element is pivotally secured to the side body portion at the top portion for selective movement between an open position providing access to the interior compartment through the open top portion, and a closed position for sealing the open top portion and interior compartment. A linkage mechanism selectively moves the cover element between its open and closed position as well as the side elements between their open and closed positions to provide selective access to the interior compartment. Finally, an activation apparatus is provided for operating the linkage mechanism to open and close the cover element and the side elements.

1 . A trash receptacle adapted for use with disposable trash bags, said receptacle comprising: 
 an elongated, substantially vertically orientated housing having a side body portion defining an interior compartment, a base portion, and an open top portion for providing access to said interior compartment;    a pair of adjacent side wall elements extending from said base portion to said top portion and forming part of said side body portion, each said side wall element having first and second vertical side edges with the first vertical side edge of each said side wall element abutting the first vertical side edge of the adjacent side wall element;    a plurality of hinge members securing the second vertical side edges of each said side wall element to said side body portion for outward pivotal movement relative to said interior compartment, said side elements movable between a closed position for sealing the side body portion around said interior compartment and an open position for providing selective side access to said interior compartment;    a cover element pivotally secured to said side body portion at said top portion for selective movement between an open position providing access to said interior compartment through said open top portion and a closed position for sealing said open top portion and interior compartment;    a linkage mechanism for selectively moving said cover element between its open and closed position and said side elements between their open and closed positions to provide selective access to said interior compartment; and    an activation apparatus for operating said linkage mechanism to open and close said cover element and said side elements.    
   
   
       2 . The trash receptacle as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said linkage mechanism comprises a first linkage assembly for selectively moving said cover element between an open and closed position, and a second linkage assembly for selectively moving said side elements between an open and a closed position.  
   
   
       3 . The trash receptacle as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said activation apparatus comprises first and second control members each being operatively secured, respectively, to said first and second linkage assemblies.  
   
   
       4 . The trash receptacle as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein said first and second control members operated independently to separately activate the movement of said cover element and said side elements between their respective open and closed positions.  
   
   
       5 . The trash receptacle as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein said first control member has two operation positions, the first said operation position selectively controlling movement of said cover element between its open and closed positions, and the second said operation position selectively activating said second control member to thereby control movement of said side elements between their open and closed positions.  
   
   
       6 . The trash receptacle as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein each said control member is separately operable to independently operate the movement of said cover element and said side elements between their respective open and closed positions.  
   
   
       7 . The trash receptacle as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein said control members comprise foot pedals.  
   
   
       8 . The trash receptacle as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said cover element and said side members are spring-loaded to bias them towards their respective closed positions upon inactivation of said linkage mechanism.  
   
   
       9 . The trash receptacle as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said base portion includes an elastomeric seal to prevent soilage from trash contained in said interior compartment.  
   
   
       10 . The trash receptacle as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein said elastomeric seal is removable for cleaning purposes.  
   
   
       11 . A trash receptacle comprising: 
 an elongated, upright enclosure having a side casing defining an interior compartment sized and shaped to receive a disposable trash bag, said side casing further including a base portion at the lower end thereof and a top portion defining an opening for providing access to said interior compartment;    a pair of adjacent side wall elements extending between said base portion to said top portion and comprising part of said side casing, each said side wall element having first and second elongated side edges with the first vertical side edge of each said side wall element abutting the first vertical side edge of the adjacent side wall element;    a plurality of hinging members securing the second vertical side edges of each said side wall element to said side casing for outward pivotal movement of said side elements relative to said interior compartment, said side elements being movable between a closed position sealing the side casing around said interior compartment, and an open position providing selective side access to said interior compartment to permit removal of disposable trash bags therein laterally from said enclosure;    a cover element pivotally secured to said side casing at said top portion for selective movement between an open position providing access to said interior compartment through said top portion opening, and a closed position for sealing said top portion opening;    a first linkage assembly arranged to provide selective movement of said cover element between its open and closed position;    a second linkage assembly arranged to provide selective movement of said side elements between their open and closed positions; and    an activation apparatus for operating said linkage assemblies to selectively open and close said cover element and said side elements.    
   
   
       12 . The receptacle as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein said activation apparatus is adapted to operate said first and second linkage assemblies simultaneously to open and close said cover element and said side wall elements concurrently with each other.  
   
   
       13 . The receptacle as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein said activation apparatus is adapted to operate said first and second linkage assemblies separately and independently.  
   
   
       14 . The receptacle as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein said activation apparatus comprises one activator element movable between first and second operating positions, said first operating position activating said first linkage assembly, and said second operating position activating said second linkage assembly.  
   
   
       15 . The receptacle as claimed in  claim 13  wherein said activation apparatus comprises first and second activator elements, said first activator element operating and controlling said first linkage assembly, and said second activator element operating and controlling said second linkage assembly.  
   
   
       16 . The receptacle as claimed in  claim 15  wherein said first activator element includes first and second operating positions, said first operating position activating said first linkage assembly, and said second operating position activating said second activator element to in turn activate and control said second linkage assembly.  
   
   
       17 . A trash receptacle comprising: 
 an elongated, upright enclosure having a substantially round side casing defining an interior compartment sized and shaped to receive a disposable trash bag, said side casing further including a substantially round top portion defining an opening for providing access to said interior compartment, and a base portion;    an elastomeric seal disposed along said base portion to prevent soilage from trash contained in said interior compartment;    a pair of adjacent side wall elements extending between said base portion to said top portion and comprising a portion of said side casing, each said side wall element having first and second vertical side edges with the first vertical side edge of each said side wall element abutting the first vertical side edge of the adjacent side wall element;    a plurality of hinging members securing the second vertical side edges of each said side wall element to said side casing for outward pivotal movement relative to said interior compartment to permit said side elements to move between a closed position sealing the side casing around said interior compartment and an open position providing selective side access to said interior compartment to permit disposable trash bags therein to be removed laterally from said enclosure;    a cover element pivotally secured to said side casing at said top portion for selective movement between an open position providing access to said interior compartment through said top portion opening and a closed position for sealing said top portion opening;    a first linkage assembly to enable selective movement of said cover element between its open and closed position;    a first activation pedal for controlling the movement of said first linkage mechanism to selectively open and close said cover element;    a second linkage assembly to enable selective movement of said side elements between their open and closed positions; and    a second activation pedal for controlling the movement of said second linkage mechanism to selectively open and close said side elements.    
   
   
       18 . The device as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein said first linkage mechanism comprises a series of interconnecting arms members adapted to move said cover element to its open position upon depression of said first activation pedal.  
   
   
       19 . The device as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein said second linkage mechanism comprises a series of interconnecting arms and gear members adapted to move said side elements to their open positions upon depression of said second activation pedal.  
   
   
       20 . The device as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein said second activation pedal also controls the movement and depression of said first activation pedal to simultaneously open both said cover and side elements by depression of said second activation pedal.