Trash Container

Abstract

A trash container includes a base, a liner supported by the base to receive and store trash, a body, supported by the base, configured to house the liner, a lid hingedly mounted to the body and a pedal. A link assembly is operably connected to the pedal and the lid to translate an up-down pivot motion of the pedal to an up-down pivot motion for the lid. The link assembly includes a lift bar and at least one first arm. The link assembly provides a direct rigid connection between the pedal and the lid. At least one damper assembly is operably connected to the link assembly for dampening opening and closing motions of the lid. The at least one damper assembly includes a damper and a second arm moveably connected to the damper and the at least one first arm.

1 . A trash container comprising:
 a base;   a liner supported by the base to receive and store associated trash;   a body, supported by the base, configured to house the liner;   a lid hingedly mounted to the body;   a pedal;   a link assembly operably connected to the pedal and the lid to translate an up-down pivot motion of the pedal to an up-down pivot motion for the lid, the link assembly including a lift bar and at least one first arm, wherein the link assembly provides a direct rigid connection between the pedal and the lid; and   at least one damper assembly operably connected to the link assembly for dampening opening and closing motions of the lid, the at least one damper assembly including a damper and a second arm moveably connected to the damper and the at least one first arm.   
   
   
       2 . The trash container of  claim 1 , wherein the lift bar defines a pivot axis for the pedal and the at least one first arm, the lift bar including a projection connected to the pedal. 
   
   
       3 . The trash container of  claim 2 , wherein the pedal includes a top section mounted to a bottom section, the projection being mounted in a groove located on at least one of the top section and the bottom section. 
   
   
       4 . The trash container of  claim 2 , wherein the lift bar is generally U-shaped. 
   
   
       5 . The trash container of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one first arm includes a first end operably connected to the lift bar, the first end including first and second opposed grooves, wherein the lift bar is received in one of the first and second grooves. 
   
   
       6 . The trash container of  claim 5 , wherein the at least one first arm includes a second end operably connected to the lid, the second end being configured to receive one end of an associated pivot pin, the other end of the associated pivot pin being received in a slotted opening located on the lid. 
   
   
       7 . The trash container of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one arm has a generally triangular conformation. 
   
   
       8 . The trash container of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one damper assembly further includes a reciprocating member having a first end operably connected to the at least one first arm and a second end operably connected to the second arm. 
   
   
       9 . The trash container of  claim 8 , wherein the second of the reciprocating member includes an opening, the second arm projecting at least partially through the opening. 
   
   
       10 . The trash container of  claim 8 , further comprising a bracket, the bracket including a first section mounted to the base and a second section, the second section movably securing the reciprocating member to the base. 
   
   
       11 . The trash container of  claim 10 , further comprising a spring having one end mounted to the bracket and an opposite end mount to the at least one first arm. 
   
   
       12 . The trash container of  claim 1 , wherein the base includes at least one first opening and at least one second opening, the at least one first arm extending upwardly through the at least one first opening and the second arm of the at least one damper assembly extending upwardly through the at least one second opening. 
   
   
       13 . A trash can container including a base, a liner supported by the base to receive and store associated trash, a body supported by the base for housing the liner, a lid hingedly mounted to the body, a pedal, a link assembly operably connecting the pedal to the lid and a damper assembly operably connected to the link assembly for dampening motion of the link assembly, the link assembly comprising:
 a lift bar connected to the pedal and pivotally connected to the base; and   an arm including a first end connected to the lift bar and a second end operably connected to the lid,   wherein the lift bar defines a pivot axis for the pedal and the arm,   wherein the lift bar and the arm provide a generally perpendicular, rigid connection from the pedal to the lid.   
   
   
       14 . The trash container of  claim 13 , wherein the lift bar is generally U-shaped including a base section and first and second arms extending from the base section in a first direction, the lift bar further including a projection extending from the base section in a second direction, the projection being mounted to the pedal. 
   
   
       15 . The trash container of  claim 14 , wherein the first end of the arm includes first and second extending grooves, wherein at least one of the first and second arms of the lift bar is received in one of the first and second grooves. 
   
   
       16 . The trash container of  claim 13 , wherein the second end of the arm includes an opening dimensioned to receive one end of an associated pivot pin, the other end of the associated pivot pin being received in a slotted opening located on the lid. 
   
   
       17 . The trash container of  claim 13 , wherein the arm has a generally triangular conformation. 
   
   
       18 . A trash can container including a base, a liner supported by the base to receive and store associated trash, a body supported by the base for housing the liner, a lid hingedly mounted to the body, a pedal, a link assembly operably connecting the pedal to the lid and a damper assembly mounted to the base and operably connected to the link assembly for dampening motion of the link assembly, the damper assembly comprising:
 a damper; and   an arm including a first end pivotally connected to the damper and a second end, the second end engaging a moveable member, the moveably member being connected to the link assembly.   
   
   
       19 . The trash container of  claim 18 , wherein the moveable member includes an opening, the second end of the arm projecting at least partially through the opening, wherein pivotal movement of the arm translates to a reciprocating movement of the moveable member. 
   
   
       20 . The trash container of  claim 18 , further comprising a bracket, the bracket including a first section mounted to the base and a second section, the second section mounting the moveable member to the base. 
   
   
       21 . The trash container of  claim 20 , further comprising a spring having one end mounted to the bracket and an opposite end mount to the link assembly.