Receptacle having a securable lid

Abstract

A trash receptacle includes a receptacle body, a lid, and a first locking mechanism for securing the lid to the receptacle body. The first locking mechanism includes a locking element coupled to one of the lid or receptacle body and a locking aperture coupled to the other of the lid or receptacle body. The locking element engages the locking aperture to secure the lid to the receptacle body. The receptacle may include a second locking mechanism including a strap and a pair of connecting members coupled to the receptacle body. The ends of the strap are coupled to the connecting members such that the strap tightly engages the lid to secure the lid to the receptacle body. Each of the first and second locking mechanisms may be used alone with a receptacle, or alternatively may be used in combination to provide additional securement of the lid.

1 . A trash receptacle, comprising:
 a receptacle body having a bottom wall and at least one sidewall collectively defining a cavity having an opening for accessing the cavity and adapted to hold waste material therein;   a lid having an upper surface and a lower surface, the lid adapted to cover the opening when engaged with the receptacle body; and   a first locking mechanism having an unlocked position and a locked position, the lid capable of being moved away from the receptacle body when in the unlocked position, and the lid prevented from being moved away from the receptacle body when in the locked position, the first locking mechanism comprising:
 a locking element coupled to one of the lid or receptacle body, the locking element including a projecting member; and 
 a locking aperture coupled to the other of the lid or receptacle body, wherein the projecting member is received in the locking aperture when the first locking mechanism is in the locked position to at least partially secure the lid to the receptacle body. 
   
   
   
       2 . The trash receptacle of  claim 1 , wherein the first locking mechanism further comprises:
 a tab extending from the lower surface of the lid, the projecting member extending from the tab in a generally circumferential direction.   
   
   
       3 . The trash receptacle of  claim 2 , wherein the tab is positioned radially outward of the sidewall of the receptacle body when the lid is engaged thereto. 
   
   
       4 . The trash receptacle of  claim 1 , wherein the first locking mechanism further comprises:
 a pair of opposed tabs each extending from the lower surface of the lid, each of the tabs having a projecting member extending therefrom in a generally circumferential direction.   
   
   
       5 . The trash receptacle of  claim 1 , wherein the receptacle includes a handle extending from the sidewall, the locking aperture being disposed in the handle. 
   
   
       6 . The trash receptacle of  claim 5 , wherein the handle further comprises:
 a pair of opposed, spaced apart lateral walls; and   an elongate member extending between the lateral walls, the locking aperture being located in at least one of the lateral walls.   
   
   
       7 . The trash receptacle of  claim 1 , wherein the receptacle includes a pair of opposed handles extending from the sidewall, a locking aperture being disposed in each of the handles. 
   
   
       8 . The trash receptacle of  claim 1 , wherein the first locking mechanism is movable between the unlocked and locked positions through rotation of the lid in a circumferential direction relative to the receptacle body. 
   
   
       9 . The trash receptacle of  claim 1 , wherein the first locking mechanism prevents rotation of the lid relative to the receptacle body in a first circumferential direction, and permits rotation of the lid relative to the receptacle body in a second circumferential direction opposite to the first circumferential direction when the first locking mechanism is in the locked position. 
   
   
       10 . The trash receptacle of  claim 1 , wherein the receptacle body further includes a lip adjacent the opening, and the receptacle further includes a guide mechanism to facilitate engagement of the locking element and the locking aperture, the guide mechanism comprising:
 a tab extending from the lower surface of the lid;   a notch formed in the lip; and   a slot formed in and extending along the lip, the slot in communication with the notch at one end thereof,   wherein the notch receives the tab when the lid is moved relative to the receptacle body so that the tab overlies the notch, the locking element being adjacent to and aligned with the locking aperture when the tab is positioned in the notch, the slot guiding the locking element into the locking aperture as the first locking mechanism is moved to the locked position.   
   
   
       11 . The trash receptacle of  claim 1 , further comprising a second locking mechanism having an unlocked and locked position, the lid capable of being moved away from the receptacle body when in the unlocked position, and the lid prevented from being moved away from the receptacle body when in the locked position, the second locking mechanism comprising:
 an elongate strap having a first end and a second end, each end coupled to the receptacle body so that the strap tightly engages the lid when in the locked position to at least partially secure the lid to the receptacle body.   
   
   
       12 . The trash receptacle of  claim 11 , further comprising a releasable fastener adjacent at least one of the first and second ends of the strap for coupling the at least one of the first and second ends of the strap to one of the connecting members. 
   
   
       13 . The trash receptacle of  claim 12 , wherein the fastener includes hook and loop fasteners spaced along the strap. 
   
   
       14 . The trash receptacle of  claim 11 , wherein the lid further comprises a groove formed in the upper surface, the strap being received in the groove when the second locking mechanism is in the locked position. 
   
   
       15 . The trash receptacle of  claim 11 , wherein the second locking mechanism further prevents rotation of the lid relative to the receptacle body. 
   
   
       16 .- 24 . (canceled) 
   
   
       25 . The trash receptacle of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 at least one connecting member coupled to the receptacle body, wherein one of the first and second ends of the strap is coupled to the at least one connecting member.   
   
   
       26 . The trash receptacle of  claim 25 , wherein the connecting member further comprises:
 a pair of opposed, spaced apart lateral walls; and   an pin extending between the lateral walls to define a strap channel.   
   
   
       27 . The trash receptacle of  claim 11 , wherein the first locking mechanism secures the lid to the receptacle body at a first circumferential location and the second locking mechanism secures the lid to the receptacle body at a second circumferential location spaced from the first circumferential location. 
   
   
       28 . The trash receptacle of  claim 27 , wherein the first circumferential location is offset from the second circumferential location by approximately ninety degrees. 
   
   
       29 . The trash receptacle of  claim 11 , wherein one of the first and second ends is fixedly secured to the receptacle body.