Foot operated container and closure device

Abstract

A receptacle device useful for receiving material, comprising a container having an open end, a closure or lid detachably and pivotally mounted on the open end of the container and an operating member connected to the closure so that the closure can be raised to and from a closed position in response to operation of the operating member.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A three element receptacle for receiving material comprising.Iadd.: .Iaddend.a .Iadd.stackable .Iaddend.container.[.,.]. .Iadd.having an opening; .Iaddend.a closure .Iadd.pivotally and detachably mounted on the opening; .Iaddend.and .[.an.]. .Iadd.a substantially U-shaped .Iaddend.operating member.[., said elements being manually separable, said container having an opening formed with a continuous peripheral beaded rim, the continuity of said rim being interrupted by a pair of opposed depressions defining bearings, said closure carrying arcuate tabs mating with and rotatable within said bearings, said closure being further formed with a channel operable to mate with said beaded rim to keep said closure in register when said closure is in the closed position, said closure being still further formed with slots operable to mate with said beaded rim to keep said closure in register when said closure is in the open position, said operating member being formed with a treadle and removable and rotatably mounted to said closure at a location spaced from said arcuate tabs effective to develop a lever arm so that upon operation of said treadle, said closure is pivoted from a closed position to an open position..]. .Iadd.straddling the container and being rotatably mounted on the closure; wherein the walls of the container which define the opening has a bearing surface upon which the closure is pivoted; wherein the closure has an element which mates with the bearing surface when the closure is pivoted; and wherein the operating member can be actuated to cause the closure to pivot on the bearing surface to open and/or close the container. .Iaddend. 
     
     
       2. The receptacle of claim 1 wherein .[.said operating member has a U-shaped configuration and straddles said container..]. .Iadd.the opening is formed with a continuous peripheral beaded rim, the continuity of the rim being interrupted by a pair of opposed depressions defining the bearing surface. .Iaddend. 
     
     
       3. The receptacle of claim 1 wherein .[.said container is formed with a recess in register with said treadle..]. .Iadd.the closure carries arcuate tabs mating with and rotatable within the bearing surface. .Iaddend. 
     
     
       4. The receptacle of claim 1 wherein .[.said operating member and said closure are so constructed so that said operating member or closure registers and bears against said beaded rim when said closure is in the open position, thereby operating to prevent said lid from disengaging from said container..]. .Iadd.the closure is further formed with a channel operable to mate with the opening to keep said closure in register when said closure is in the closed position. .Iaddend. 
     
     
       5. The receptacle of claim 1 wherein said operating member is formed with a .[.pair of opposed bridges operable to register and bear against said beaded rim when said closure is in the open position whereby said closure may be grasped and said receptacle transported without separating said closure from said container..]. .Iadd.tradle and wherein the container is formed with a recess in register with the treadle. .Iaddend. 
     
     
       6. The .[.device.]. .Iadd.receptacle.Iaddend.of claim .[.5.]. .Iadd.6 .Iaddend.wherein .[.said bridges terminate in return bends effective to avoid inadvertent separation between said operating arms and said closure..]. .Iadd.the operating member and the closure are so constructed so that the operating member or closure registers and bears against said beaded rim when the closure is in the open position, thereby operating to prevent said lid from disengaging from the container. .Iaddend. 
     
     
       7. The .[.device.]. .Iadd.receptacle .Iaddend.of claim .[.1.]. .Iadd.2 .Iaddend.wherein .[.said closure.]. .Iadd.the operating member .Iaddend.is formed with .[.inward tabs operable to register.]. .Iadd.a pair of opposed bridges operable to register .Iaddend.and bear against .[.said.]. .Iadd.the .Iaddend.beaded rim when said closure is in the open position whereby said closure may be grasped and said receptacle transported without separating said closure from said container.[...]. .Iadd., and wherein the bridges terminate in return bends effective to avoid inadvertent separation between the operating member and the closure. .Iaddend..Iadd. 8. The receptacle of claim 2 wherein the closure is formed with inward tabs operable to register and bear against the beaded rim when the closure is in the open position whereby the closure may be grasped and the receptacle transported without separating the closure from the container. .Iaddend.