Trash can assembly with locking lid

Abstract

A trash can assembly has a shell, a lid fitted over the top end of the shell, a foot pedal positioned adjacent the bottom end of the shell, a link assembly coupling the foot pedal and the lid, and a lock secured to the lid and removably engaged with the shell to maintain the lid in an open position without pressing the foot pedal.

1 . A trash can assembly, comprising: 
 a shell having an interior, a top end and a bottom end;    a lid fitted over the top end;    a foot pedal positioned adjacent the bottom end of the shell;    a link assembly coupling the foot pedal and the lid; and    a lock secured to the lid and removably engaged with the shell to maintain the lid in an open position without pressing the foot pedal.    
   
   
       2 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the link assembly includes a link rod that couples the foot pedal and the lock.  
   
   
       3 . The assembly of  claim 2 , further including a bracket fixedly secured to the lid, with the link rod pivotably coupling the bracket and the lock.  
   
   
       4 . The assembly of  claim 1 , further including a ridge provided at the top end of the shell, with the lock removably engaged with the ridge.  
   
   
       5 . The assembly of  claim 3 , further including a support frame provided at the top end of the shell, the support frame having a slot through which the bracket and the lock extend.  
   
   
       6 . The assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the lock is positioned outside the interior of the shell when the lock is engaged to the ridge.  
   
   
       7 . The assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the lock is positioned inside the interior of the shell when the lock is disengaged from the ridge and the lid is closed.  
   
   
       8 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the lock comprises a bar.  
   
   
       9 . The assembly of  claim 1 , further including a stop member provided on the lock.  
   
   
       10 . A trash can assembly, comprising: 
 a shell having an interior, a top end and a bottom end;    a foot pedal positioned adjacent the bottom end of the shell;    a lid fitted over the top end of the shell;    a bracket fixedly secured to the lid;    a link rod pivotably coupling the foot pedal and the bracket;    a lock coupled to the link rod;    a support frame provided at the top end of the shell, the support frame having a slot through which the bracket and the lock extend; and    wherein the lock removably engaging a portion of the support frame to maintain the lid in an open position without pressing the foot pedal.    
   
   
       11 . The assembly of  claim 10 , further including a ridge provided on the support frame, with the lock removably engaging the ridge to maintain the lid in an open position without pressing the foot pedal.  
   
   
       12 . The assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the lock is positioned outside the interior of the shell when the lock is engaged with the ridge.  
   
   
       13 . The assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the lock is positioned inside the interior of the shell when the lock is disengaged from the ridge and the lid is closed.