Adjustable trash bin lid controller

Abstract

A foot operated trash bin lid controller which includes a rear base having opposite ends, a first side base coupled to one of the opposite ends of the rear base, a second side base coupled to another of the opposite ends of the rear base, a pivotal arm having a front end that can pivotally move upward and downward, a lid hook that extends inwardly from the front end of the pivotal arm, an upright support member having opposite ends that are coupled between a rear portion of the second side base and a rear end of the pivotal arm, a pivotal foot pedal bar having a front end and a rear end and a vertical linkage member having opposite ends that are coupled between the rear end of the pivotal foot pedal bar and a rear portion of the pivotal arm. Depressing the front end of the pivotal pedal bar causes the front end of the pivotal arm to move upward. The length of at least one of the rear base, upright support member and vertical linkage member is adjustable so as to allow the foot operated trash bin lid controller to be used with different sized trash bins.

1 . A foot operated trash bin lid controller which comprises:
 a lower assembly that includes:
 a rear base having opposite ends, 
 a first side base coupled to one of the opposite ends of the rear base, and 
 a second side base coupled to another of the opposite ends of the rear base; 
   an upper assembly that includes:
 a pivotal arm having a front end that can pivotally move upward and downward, and 
 a lid hook that extends inwardly from the front end of the pivotal arm; 
   an upright support member having opposite ends that are coupled between a rear portion of the second side base and a rear end of the pivotal arm;   a pivotal foot pedal bar having a front end and a rear end; and   a vertical linkage member having opposite ends that are coupled between the rear end of the pivotal foot pedal bar and a rear portion of the pivotal arm,   
     whereby depressing the front end of the pivotal pedal bar causes the front end of the pivotal arm to move upward, and 
     wherein the length of at least one of the rear base, upright support member and vertical linkage member is adjustable. 
   
   
       2 . A foot operated trash bin lid controller according to  claim 1 , wherein the rear base, first side base and second side base form a support base that has an unobstructed open front portion. 
   
   
       3 . A foot operated trash bin lid controller according to  claim 1 , wherein the length of both of the upright support member and vertical linkage member are adjustable. 
   
   
       4 . A foot operated trash bin lid controller according to  claim 1 , wherein the length of each of the rear base, upright support member and vertical linkage member are adjustable. 
   
   
       5 . A foot operated trash bin lid controller according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the rear base, upright support member and vertical linkage member comprises a telescopic assembly. 
   
   
       6 . A foot operated trash bin lid controller according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the rear base, upright support member and vertical linkage member comprises a telescopic assembly. 
   
   
       7 . A foot operated trash bin lid controller according to  claim 1 , wherein the lid hook is pivotally coupled to the front end of the pivotal arm. 
   
   
       8 . A foot operated trash bin lid controller in combination with a trash bin which combination comprises:
 a foot operated trash bin lid controller that includes:
 a lower assembly including:
 a rear base having opposite ends, 
 a first side base coupled to one of the opposite ends of the rear base, and 
 a second side base coupled to another of the opposite ends of the rear base; 
 
 an upper assembly that including:
 a pivotal arm having a front end that can pivotally move upward and downward, and 
 a lid hook that extends inwardly from the front end of the pivotal arm; 
 
 an upright support member having opposite ends that are coupled between a rear portion of the second side base and a rear end of the pivotal arm; 
 a pivotal foot pedal bar having a front end and a rear end; and 
 a vertical linkage member having opposite ends that are coupled between the rear end of the pivotal foot pedal bar and a rear portion of the pivotal arm; and 
 a trash bin having a pivotal lid, 
   whereby depressing the front end of the pivotal pedal bar causes the front end of the pivotal arm to move upward and open the lid of the trash bin, and   wherein the length of at least one of the rear base, upright support member and vertical linkage member is adjustable.   
   
   
       9 . The combination of  claim 8 , wherein the trash bin comprises wheels. 
   
   
       10 . The combination of  claim 8 , wherein the trash bin is generally rectangular. 
   
   
       11 . The combination of  claim 8 , wherein the lid hook is removable positioned between a top of a side of the trash bin and the lid of the trash bin. 
   
   
       12 . The combination of  claim 8 , wherein the rear base, first side base and second side base form a support base that has an unobstructed open front portion that allows the trash bin to be positioned in or removed from the support base. 
   
   
       13 . The combination of  claim 8 , wherein the length of each of the rear base, upright support member and vertical linkage member are adjustable. 
   
   
       14 . The combination of  claim 8 , wherein at least one of the rear base, upright support member and vertical linkage member comprises a telescopic assembly. 
   
   
       15 . The combination of  claim 8 , wherein each of the rear base, upright support member and vertical linkage member comprises a telescopic assembly. 
   
   
       16 . The combination of  claim 8 , wherein the lid hook is pivotally coupled to the front end of the pivotal arm. 
   
   
       17 . A method of opening a trash bin which comprises:
 providing a foot operated trash bin lid controller that includes:
 a lower assembly including:
 a rear base having opposite ends, 
 a first side base coupled to one of the opposite ends of the rear base, and 
 a second side base coupled to another of the opposite ends of the rear base; 
 
 an upper assembly that including:
 a pivotal arm having a front end that can pivotally move upward and downward, and 
 a lid hook that extends inwardly from the front end of the pivotal arm; 
 
 an upright support member having opposite ends that are coupled between a rear portion of the second side base and a rear end of the pivotal arm; 
 a pivotal foot pedal bar having a front end and a rear end; and 
 a vertical linkage member having opposite ends that are coupled between the rear end of the pivotal foot pedal bar and a rear portion of the pivotal arm; 
   providing a trash bin having a pivotal lid;   positioning the trash bin between the first side base and the second side base and in front of the rear base;   positioning the lid hook between a top of a side of the trash bin and the lid of the trash bin; and   depressing the front end of the pivotal pedal bar so as to cause the front end of the pivotal arm to move upward and open the lid of the trash bin.   
   
   
       18 . A method of opening a trash bin according to  claim 17 , further comprising adjusting the length of at least one of the rear base, upright support member and vertical linkage member