Animal-resistant refuse container

Abstract

The present invention is directed to the invention is directed to an animal resistant refuse container that may include a container body, a lid and latching mechanisms to secure the lid to the container body. In one embodiment, the container body includes a pair of handles extending from its vertical side walls on opposite sides of the container body proximate the top end, and the lid includes a pair of anchor members disposed on a top surface of the lid with each anchor member corresponding to one of the handles of the container body. The latching mechanisms each include a lid connector configured to attach to one of the anchor members and a handle connector configured to attach to one of the handles, and with one of the connectors being configured to releasably attach to the corresponding anchor member or handle. The lid may be secured to the container body when the latching mechanisms are attached to the corresponding anchor members and handles, and the lid may be removable from the container body when the releasable connectors of the latching mechanisms are detached from the corresponding anchor members or handles.

1 . A refuse container comprising: 
 a container body having vertical side walls, a central cavity extending downwardly therebetween, a top end defining an opening of the refuse container, and a pair of handles extending from the vertical side walls and disposed proximate the top end of the container body on opposite sides of the container body;    a lid having a downturned peripheral rim receivable over a top end of said container body, and a pair of anchor members disposed on a top surface of the lid, each anchor member corresponding to one of the handles of the container body;    a pair of latching mechanisms, each corresponding to one of the handles and the corresponding anchor member, each latching mechanism including a lid connector configured to attach to the anchor member and a handle connector configured to attach to the handle, wherein one of the lid connector and the handle connector is configured to releasably attach to the corresponding anchor member or handle, wherein the lid is secured to the container body when both latching mechanisms are attached to the corresponding anchor members and handles, and wherein the lid is removable from the container body when the releasable connectors are detached from the corresponding anchor members or handles.    
   
   
       2 . A refuse container according to  claim 1 , wherein the handles engage the rim of the lid to secure the lid to the top end of the container body when the lid is received over the top end of the container body.  
   
   
       3 . A refuse container according to  claim 1 , wherein the handles are pivotally connected to the sides of the container body to move between an upward engaged position wherein the handles engage the rim of the lid to secure the lid to the top end of the container body when the lid is received over the top end of the container body, and a disengaged position wherein the handles do not engage the rim of the lid.  
   
   
       4 . A refuse container according to  claim 1 , wherein the handle connector of each of the latching mechanisms releasably engages the corresponding handle and comprises a hook extending away from the lid connector and configured to be disposed around and engage the handle to secure the lid to the container body.  
   
   
       5 . A refuse container according to  claim 4 , wherein each latching mechanism comprises an elastomeric member connecting the lid connector and the handle connector, and wherein the lid connector, handle connector and elastomeric member are configured such that a force must be applied to the latching mechanism to stretch the elastomeric member to provide clearance for the hook to attach to and detach from the corresponding handle.  
   
   
       6 . A refuse container according to  claim 5 , wherein each latching mechanism comprises an outwardly extending grip configured for engagement by a user to apply a force to stretch the elastomeric member.  
   
   
       7 . A refuse container according to  claim 1 , wherein the lid connector of each latching mechanism comprises a swivel eye piston snap having a hook configured to releasably engage the corresponding anchor member to secure the lid to the open end of the container body.  
   
   
       8 . A refuse container according to  claim 7 , wherein each swivel eye piston snap comprises a piston slidable within a body of the swivel eye piston snap between an extended position wherein the piston is disposed in an opening of the hook and engaging a tip of the hook to form a closed loop and maintain attachment to the corresponding anchor member, and a retracted position wherein the opening of the hook is exposed to allow detachment of the lid connector from the anchor member.  
   
   
       9 . A refuse container according to  claim 8 , wherein the handle connector of each latching mechanism comprises a clamp surrounding the corresponding handle and connected to a swivel connector of the swivel eye piston snap.  
   
   
       10 . A refuse container comprising: 
 a container body having vertical side walls, a central cavity extending downwardly therebetween, a top end defining an opening of the refuse container, and at least two container body attachment projections extending from the vertical side walls and disposed proximate the top end of the container body;    a lid having a downturned peripheral rim receivable over a top end of said container body, and at least two anchor members disposed on a top surface of the lid;    at least two latching mechanisms, each latching mechanism including a lid connector configured to attach to one of the anchor members and a container body connector configured to attach to one of the container body attachment projections, wherein one of the lid connector and the container body connector is configured to releasably attach to an anchor member or a container body attachment projection, respectively, wherein the lid is secured to the container body when each of the latching mechanisms are attached to a corresponding anchor member and container body attachment projection, and wherein the lid is removable from the container body when the releasable connectors are detached from the corresponding anchor members or container body attachment projections.    
   
   
       11 . A refuse container according to  claim 10 , wherein the container body includes two container body attachment projections disposed on opposite sides of the container body, the lid includes two anchor members, and the refuse container comprises two latching mechanisms.  
   
   
       12 . A refuse container according to  claim 10 , wherein the container body attachment projections comprise handles extending from the vertical side walls.  
   
   
       13 . A refuse container according to  claim 12 , wherein the handles engage the rim of the lid to secure the lid to the top end of the container body when the lid is received over the top end of the container body.  
   
   
       14 . A refuse container according to  claim 12 , wherein the handles are pivotally connected to the sides of the container body to move between an upward engaged position wherein the handles engage the rim of the lid to secure the lid to the top end of the container body when the lid is received over the top end of the container body, and a disengaged position wherein the handles do not engage the rim of the lid.  
   
   
       15 . A refuse container according to  claim 10 , wherein the container body connector of each of the latching mechanisms releasably engages the corresponding container body attachment projection and comprises a hook extending away from the lid connector and configured to be disposed around and engage the container body attachment projection to secure the lid to the container body.  
   
   
       16 . A refuse container according to  claim 15 , wherein each latching mechanism comprises an elastomeric member connecting the lid connector and the container body connector, and wherein the lid connector, container body connector and elastomeric member are configured such that a force must be applied to the latching mechanism to stretch the elastomeric member to provide clearance for the hook to attach to and detach from the corresponding container body attachment projection.  
   
   
       17 . A refuse container according to  claim 16 , wherein each latching mechanism comprises an outwardly extending grip configured for engagement by a user to apply a force to stretch the elastomeric member.  
   
   
       18 . A refuse container according to  claim 10 , wherein the lid connector of each latching mechanism comprises a swivel eye piston snap having a hook configured to releasably engage the corresponding anchor member to secure the lid to the open end of the container body.  
   
   
       19 . A refuse container according to  claim 18 , wherein each swivel eye piston snap comprises a piston slidable within a body of the swivel eye piston snap between an extended position wherein the piston is disposed in an opening of the hook and engaging a tip of the hook to form a closed loop and maintain attachment to the corresponding anchor member, and a retracted position wherein the opening of the hook is exposed to allow detachment of the lid connector from the anchor member.  
   
   
       20 . A refuse container according to  claim 19 , wherein the container body connector of each latching mechanism comprises a clamp surrounding the corresponding container body attachment projection and connected to a swivel connector of the swivel eye piston snap.  
   
   
       21 . A latching mechanism for a refuse container having a container body and a lid, wherein the container body includes vertical side walls, a central cavity extending downwardly therebetween, a top end defining an opening of the refuse container, and handles extending from the vertical side walls and disposed proximate the top end of the container body, and wherein the lid includes a downturned peripheral rim receivable over a top end of said container body, and anchor members disposed on a top surface of the lid, the latching mechanism comprising: 
 a handle connector configured to attach to one of the handles of the container body; and    a lid connector configured to attach to one of the anchor members disposed proximate a handle to which the handle connector is attached,    wherein one of the handle connector and the lid connector is configured to releasably attach to one of the handles or one of the anchor members, respectively, and wherein a plurality of the latching mechanisms secure the lid to the container body when each of the latching mechanisms are attached to one of the handles and to one of the anchor members disposed proximate the handle.    
   
   
       22 . A latching mechanism according to  claim 21 , wherein the handles of the container body are pivotally connected to the sides of the container body to move between an upward engaged position wherein the handles engage the rim of the lid to secure the lid to the top end of the container body when the lid is received over the top end of the container body, and a disengaged position wherein the handles do not engage the rim of the lid, and wherein the latching mechanisms secure the handles in the upward engaged position when the lid connectors are attached to the anchor members and the handle connectors are attached to the handles.  
   
   
       23 . A latching mechanism according to  claim 21 , wherein the handle connector releasably engages the corresponding handle and comprises a hook extending away from the lid connector and configured to be disposed around and engage the handle to secure the lid to the container body.  
   
   
       24 . A latching mechanism according to  claim 23 , comprising an elastomeric member connecting the lid connector and the handle connector, and wherein the lid connector, handle connector and elastomeric member are configured such that a force must be applied to the latching mechanism to stretch the elastomeric member to provide clearance for the hook to attach to and detach from the corresponding handle.  
   
   
       25 . A latching mechanism according to  claim 24 , comprising an outwardly extending grip configured for engagement by a user to apply a force to stretch the elastomeric member.  
   
   
       26 . A latching mechanism according to  claim 21 , wherein the lid connector comprises a swivel eye piston snap having a hook configured to releasably engage an anchor member to secure the lid to the open end of the container body.  
   
   
       27 . A latching mechanism according to  claim 26 , wherein each swivel eye piston snap comprises a piston slidable within a body of the swivel eye piston snap between an extended position wherein the piston is disposed in an opening of the hook and engaging a tip of the hook to form a closed loop and maintain attachment to the corresponding anchor member, and a retracted position wherein the opening of the hook is exposed to allow detachment of the lid connector from the anchor member.  
   
   
       28 . A latching mechanism according to  claim 27 , wherein the handle connector comprises a clamp surrounding one of the handles and connected to a swivel connector of the swivel eye piston snap.