Secure trash container assembly

Abstract

The present invention provides a plurality of injection molded plastic panels having integrated connectors. The panels are constructed and arranged packaging and shipment in a nested and/or stacked arrangement. Thereafter, the panels may be assembled into a secure trash container. The integrally formed connectors of the side walls, cover and bottom panel components simplifies trash container construction by integrally forming the connectors into the injection molded panels which are snapped together. The panels are formed of injection molded plastic to interlock with one another without the need for separate metal fasteners or connectors.

1 . A trash container comprising: 
 a floor panel for enclosing the bottom of a trash container, said floor panel including a top surface, a bottom surface, a front edge, a rear edge, a left edge and a right edge, wherein at least two of said edges include means for connecting to adjacently positioned panels;    a left side panel for enclosing the left side of said trash container, said left side panel including a front edge, a rear edge, a top edge and a bottom edge, said front edge, said rear edge, and said bottom edge including means for connecting to adjacently positioned panels;    a right side panel for enclosing the right side of said trash container, said right side panel including a front edge, a rear edge, a top edge and a bottom edge, said front edge, said rear edge, and said bottom edge including means for connecting to adjacently positioned panels;    a back panel for enclosing the back of said trash container, said back panel including a left edge, a right edge, a top edge and a bottom edge, said left edge, said right edge, and said bottom edge including means for connecting to adjacently positioned panels;    a front panel for enclosing the front of said trash container, said front panel including a left edge, a right edge, a top edge and a bottom edge, said left edge, said right edge, and said bottom edge including means for connecting to adjacently positioned panels;    wherein said floor panel, said left side panel, said right side panel, said front panel and said back panel are constructed and arranged for shipment in a stacked arrangement for assembly into said trash container on a desired site.    
   
   
       2 . The trash container of  claim 1  including a cover panel for enclosing the top of said trash container, said cover panel constructed and arranged to provide ingress into said trash container and facilitate removal of trash from said trash container, said cover constructed and arranged to cooperate with said left, right, back, and front panels to retain a trash bag in an open position within said trash container, wherein said cover panel is constructed and arranged for shipment in a stacked arrangement along with said floor panel, said left side panel, said right side panel, said front panel and said rear panel for assembly into said trash container on a desired site.  
   
   
       3 . The trash container of  claim 2  wherein said cover includes a lid portion hingedly mounted within said cover panel for movement between an open position and a closed position, wherein said open position provides an opening to place trash in said open trash bag, whereby said cover panel remains stationary for retention of an upper portion of said trash bag during opening of said lid portion.  
   
   
       4 . The trash container of  claim 3  wherein said lid portion includes a latch for locking said lid portion in said closed position, wherein said latch is constructed and arranged to releasably engage said cover panel.  
   
   
       5 . The trash container of  claim 4  wherein said lid portion includes at least one elongated slot constructed and arranged to cooperate with at least one retainer clip integrally formed to a bottom surface of said latch for slidable movement between a latched and an unlatched position.  
   
   
       6 . The trash container of  claim 4  wherein said lid portion includes two elongated slots constructed and arranged to cooperate with two retainer clips integrally formed to said latch for slidable movement between a latched position and an unlatched position.  
   
   
       7 . The trash container of  claim 4  wherein said lid portion includes an integrally formed rain gutter extending substantially along a perimeter of said latch.  
   
   
       8 . The trash container of  claim 1  wherein at least two of said edges of each said left side panel, said right side panel, said front panel and said back panel include a depending lip extending substantially perpendicular with respect to an inner surface of each said panel, whereby said panels are constructed and arranged for shipment in a nested arrangement for assembly into said trash container on a desired site.  
   
   
       9 . The trash container of  claim 1  wherein said means for connecting to adjacently positioned panels includes at least one socket integrally formed into at least one of said edges, said socket positioned for interlocking engagement with at least one locking post integrally formed onto at least one of said edges of an adjacently positioned panel, wherein said at least one socket includes at least three side walls and one end wall.  
   
   
       10 . The trash container of  claim 9  wherein said at least one socket includes four side walls and one end wall.  
   
   
       11 . The trash container of  claim 9  wherein said front and said rear edges of said left and said right side panels each include a plurality of said locking posts integrally formed thereon and said front and said back panels include a plurality of said sockets formed therein, wherein said sockets are positioned to interlockingly engage said locking posts to secure said panels in a substantially perpendicular relationship with respect to each other.  
   
   
       12 . The trash container of  claim 11  wherein said sockets and said locking posts are arranged in a linear fashion extending along said edges.  
   
   
       13 . The trash container of  claim 1  wherein said means for connecting to adjacently positioned panels includes at least one socket integrally formed into at least one of said edges, said socket positioned for interlocking engagement with at least one locking post integrally formed onto at least one of said edges of an adjacently positioned panel, wherein at least a portion of said at least one locking post is formed hollow.  
   
   
       14 . The trash container of  claim 13  wherein said front and said rear edges of said left and said right side panels each include a plurality of said locking posts integrally formed thereon and said front and said back panels include a plurality of said sockets formed therein, wherein said sockets are positioned to interlockingly engage said locking posts to secure said panels in a substantially perpendicular relationship with respect to each other.  
   
   
       15 . The trash container of  claim 14  wherein said sockets and said locking posts are arranged in a linear fashion extending along said edges.  
   
   
       16 . The trash container of  claim 1  wherein said front and said rear edges of said floor panel each include a plurality of locking posts integrally formed thereon, said locking posts constructed and arranged to cooperate with a plurality of sockets integrally formed into said bottom edge of said front and said back panels, wherein said sockets are positioned to interlockingly engage said locking posts to secure said panels in a substantially perpendicular relationship with respect to each other.  
   
   
       17 . The trash container of  claim 1  including at least two wheels rotatably mounted to a lower portion of said trash container.  
   
   
       18 . The trash container of  claim 17  wherein said wheels are removably mounted to a rear lower portion of said trash container, whereby said trash container may be pivoted to an angled position with respect to a ground surface for movement of said trash container.  
   
   
       19 . The trash container of  claim 17  wherein said back panel includes at least one boss integrally formed thereto, said at least one boss constructed and arranged for rotatably mounting said at least two wheels.  
   
   
       20 . The trash container of  claim 17  wherein said back panel includes two integrally formed bosses, wherein each said at least one wheel includes an axle, wherein each said axle is constructed and arranged to interlockingly engage one of said integrally formed bosses, whereby each said wheel is rotatably secured to said lower portion of said trash container.