Refuse container

Abstract

The present invention relates to a refuse container having a base element of four side walls and a bottom substantially surrounding a cavity and forming an opening at a top thereof. At least a first of said side walls provides a substantially uniform height that is greater than a substantially uniform height of a second and opposing side wall. A lid element slidably disposed on the base element so as to slide from a closed position substantially covering the opening of the base element to an open position substantially within the cavity of the base element and substantially parallel to one of said side walls.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A refuse container comprising:
 a base element having four side walls and a bottom substantially surrounding a cavity and forming an opening at a top thereof, at least a first of said side walls provides a substantially uniform height that is greater than a substantially uniform height of a second and opposing side wall; and   a lid element slidably disposed on the base element so as to slide from a closed position substantially covering the opening of the base element to an open position substantially within the cavity of the base element and substantially parallel to one of said side walls.   
     
     
         2 . The refuse container of  claim 1  wherein the lid element is formed from a flexible material. 
     
     
         3 . The refuse container of  claim 1  wherein the lid element is formed from a plurality of flexible slats coupled together in a close, parallel orientation. 
     
     
         4 . The refuse container of  claim 1  wherein the lid element contains a handle extending therefrom. 
     
     
         5 . The refuse container of  claim 1  wherein the lid element is slidably disposed on a track assembly or a track and wheel assembly. 
     
     
         6 . The refuse container of  claim 1  wherein the lid element slides from a closed position substantially covering the opening of the base element to an open position substantially within the cavity of the base element, wherein in the open position the lid element is substantially parallel and adjacent to said second side wall. 
     
     
         7 . The refuse container of  claim 1  wherein said lid element is received within a housing when slidably disposed in said open position. 
     
     
         8 . The refuse container of  claim 7  wherein said housing comprises an interior wall in a parallel orientation to one side wall of the base element and is spaced slightly away from said one side wall of a sufficient distance to receive said lid element, wherein dimensions of said interior wall are slightly less than said one side wall. 
     
     
         9 . The refuse container of  claim 7  wherein said housing comprises an interior wall in a parallel orientation to said second side wall of the base element and is spaced slightly away from said second side wall of a sufficient distance to receive said lid element, wherein dimensions of said interior wall are slightly less than said second side wall. 
     
     
         10 . The refuse container of  claim 1  wherein the four side walls form an opening that slopes upwardly from the second side wall to the first side wall. 
     
     
         11 . The refuse container of  claim 1  further comprising an overhang element extending above said opening and said lid element from at least one of said side walls. 
     
     
         12 . The refuse container of  claim 1  further comprising an overhang element extending above said opening and said lid element from at least three of said side walls. 
     
     
         13 . The refuse container of  claim 1  further comprising a handle extending from an external side of at least one of said side walls. 
     
     
         14 . The refuse container of  claim 1  further comprising a set of two wheels. 
     
     
         15 . The refuse container of  claim 14  wherein each wheel extends from a side wall at a point proximate to a junction between two adjacent sidewalls and the bottom such that the two wheels are positioned on opposing sides of the base element. 
     
     
         16 . The refuse container of  claim 15  wherein at least one of the two adjacent sidewalls is the second side wall. 
     
     
         17 . The refuse container of  claim 1  further comprising a plate coupled to one of said side walls. 
     
     
         18 . The refuse contain of  claim 17  wherein the plate contains personalized information. 
     
     
         19 . The refuse container of  claim 1  further comprising an indented region on at least one of said side walls. 
     
     
         20 . The refuse container of  claim 19  wherein the indented region is on one side wall at or about a junction of the side wall with the bottom. 
     
     
         21 . A refuse container comprising:
 a base element having four side walls and a bottom substantially surrounding a cavity and forming an opening at a top thereof, at least a first of said side walls provides a substantially uniform length that is greater than a substantially uniform length of a second and opposing side wall such that the four side walls form an opening that slopes upwardly from the second side wall to the first side wall; and   a lid element formed from a plurality of parallel slats slidably disposed on the base element so as to slide from a closed position substantially covering the opening of the base element to an open position substantially within the cavity of the base element and substantially parallel to one of said side walls.   
     
     
         22 . A refuse container comprising:
 a base element having four side walls and a bottom substantially surrounding a cavity and forming an opening at a top thereof, at least a first of said side walls provides a substantially uniform length that is greater than a substantially uniform length of a second and opposing side wall such that the four side walls form an opening that slopes upwardly from the second side wall to the first side wall; and   a lid element formed from one or more flexible slats slidably disposed on the base element so as to slide from a closed position substantially covering the opening of the base element to an open position substantially within a housing within the cavity of the base element and substantially parallel and adjacent to one of said side walls.