초록 ▼

A bifurcated trash bin includes a rectangular housing having an open top portion and a closed bottom portion defining a cavity therein. A divider member is removably positionable along the top portion for bifurcating the cavity into a pair of substantially symmetric partitions. The trash bin furth

A bifurcated trash bin includes a rectangular housing having an open top portion and a closed bottom portion defining a cavity therein. A divider member is removably positionable along the top portion for bifurcating the cavity into a pair of substantially symmetric partitions. The trash bin further includes a plurality of rectangular lids pivotally connected to the housing and a plurality of bag-supporting members pivotally connected to the housing adjacent to the lids. A mechanism for maintaining the lids and the bag-supporting members at closed positions is disposed about a partial perimeter of the housing.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed as new and what is desired to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is: 1. An apparatus for receiving and storing disposable items therein, said apparatus comprising: a housing provided with a centrally disposed longitudinal axis and having an open top portion and a closed b

What is claimed as new and what is desired to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is: 1. An apparatus for receiving and storing disposable items therein, said apparatus comprising: a housing provided with a centrally disposed longitudinal axis and having an open top portion and a closed bottom portion axially spaced therefrom, said housing defining a cavity therein and including a divider member removably positionable along said top portion wherein said divider member traverses the axis along a substantially horizontal plane, said divider member for bifurcating the cavity into a pair of juxtaposed partitions for maintaining separate trash bags therein; a plurality of lids pivotally independently connected to said housing and adjacent to said top portion, said lids being independently and selectively movable between raised and lowered positions along respective arcuate paths for covering said open top portion of said housing; a plurality of bag-supporting members pivotally connected to said housing adjacent said lids respectively, said bag-supporting members being sized and shaped for extending about associated perimeters of said partitions wherein top edge portions of the trash bags can be selectively engaged with said bag-supporting members and securely held in place when said bag-supporting members are pivoted to lowered positions respectively; and means for maintaining said lids and said bag-supporting members at closed positions wherein said maintaining means is disposed about a partial perimeter of said housing; wherein said maintaining means comprises a plurality of lip portions secured to said housing and extending upwardly therefrom, said lip portions being oppositely spaced from said divider member and extending substantially parallel thereto, each said lip portion having a generally L-shape and including a protrusion integrally disposed along a length thereof, said protrusions partially extending into the arcuate paths of said bag-support members so that a frictional force can be generated therebetween and hold the trash bags at operating positions, said divider member including a plurality of protrusions extending along a length thereof for cooperating with said lip protrusions and to support the trash bags at stable positions; wherein said lids comprise: outer edges portions and a central surface integral therewith and engageable with said lip portions and said lip protrusions when moved to lowered positions respectively. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a plurality of stop members connected to said housing and disposed adjacent to said top portion, said stop members extending inwardly from a perimeter of said housing and defining a platform above which said divider member is supported, said housing further having a plurality of slots formed therein and vertically above said stop members wherein the slots are sized and shaped for mating with said divider member, said divider member having opposed end portions including integrally disposed flange portions extending outwardly and away therefrom for selectively fitting through the slots and resting on said stop members respectively so that said divider member can be maintained along the horizontal plane. 3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a plurality of levers attached to said housing adjacent front end portions of said partitions respectively, said levers for assisting a user to disengage said lids and said bag-supporting members upwardly and away from said housing during operating conditions respectively. 4. An apparatus for receiving and storing disposable items therein, said apparatus comprising: a generally rectangular housing provided with a centrally disposed longitudinal axis and having an open top portion and a closed bottom portion axially spaced therefrom, said housing defining a cavity therein and including a divider member removably positionable along said top portion wherein said divider member traverses the axis along a substantially horizontal plane, said divider member for bifurcating the cavity into a pair of juxtaposed partitions for maintaining separate trash bags therein; a plurality of rectangular lids pivotally independently connected to said housing and adjacent to said top portion, said lids being independently and selectively movable between raised and lowered positions along respective arcuate paths for covering said open top portion of said housing; a plurality of bag-supporting members pivotally connected to said housing adjacent said lids respectively, said bag-supporting members being sized and shaped for independently extending about associated perimeters of said partitions wherein top edge portions of the trash bags can be selectively engaged with said bag-supporting members and securely held in place when said bag-supporting members are pivoted to lowered positions respectively; and means for maintaining said lids and said bag-supporting members at closed positions wherein said maintaining means is disposed about a partial perimeter of said housing; wherein said maintaining means comprises a plurality of lip portions secured to said housing and extending upwardly therefrom, said lip portions being oppositely spaced from said divider member and extending substantially parallel thereto, each said lip portion having a generally L-shape and including a protrusion integrally disposed along a length thereof, said protrusions partially extending into the arcuate paths of said bag-support members so that a frictional force can be generated therebetween and hold the trash bags at operating positions, said divider member including a plurality of protrusions extending along a length thereof for cooperating with said lip protrusions and to support the trash bags at stable positions; a plurality of stop members connected to said housing and disposed adjacent to said top portion, said stop members extending inwardly from a perimeter of said housing and defining a platform above which said divider member is supported, said housing further having a plurality of slots formed therein and vertically above said stop members wherein the slots are sized and shaped for mating with said divider member, said divider member having opposed end portions including integrally disposed flange portions extending outwardly and away therefrom for selectively fitting through the slots and resting on said stop members respectively so that said divider member can be maintained along the horizontal plane. 5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said lids comprise: outer edges portions and a central surface integral therewith and engageable with said lip portions and said lip protrusions when moved to lowered positions respectively. 6. The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising: a plurality of levers attached to said housing adjacent front end portions of said partitions respectively, said levers for assisting a user to disengage said lids and said bag-supporting members upwardly and away from said housing during operating conditions respectively. 7. An apparatus for receiving and storing disposable items therein, said apparatus comprising: a generally rectangular housing provided with a centrally disposed longitudinal axis and having an open top portion and a closed bottom portion axially spaced therefrom, said housing defining a cavity therein and including a divider member removably positionable along said top portion wherein said divider member traverses the axis along a substantially horizontal plane, said divider member for bifurcating the cavity into a pair of juxtaposed and substantially symmetric partitions for maintaining separate trash bags therein, said divider member extending parallel to the horizontal plane wherein said divider member remains spaced above a bottom surface of said housing; a plurality of rectangular lids pivotally independently connected to said housing and adjacent to said top portion, said lids being independently and selectively movable between raised and lowered positions along respective and independent arcuate paths for covering said open top portion of said housing, said lids independently pivoting about a first axis extending orthogonal to the longitudinal axis such that a first one of said lids remains at a closed position while a second one of said lids freely pivots between closed and open positions along an associated one of said arcuate paths; a plurality of bag-supporting members pivotally connected to said housing adjacent said lids respectively, said bag-supporting members being sized and shaped for independently extending about associated perimeters of said partitions wherein top edge portions of the trash bags can be selectively engaged with said bag-supporting members and securely held in place when said bag-supporting members are pivoted to lowered positions respectively, said bag-supporting member pivoting about a second axis extending adjacent said first axis and extending substantially parallel thereto; and means for maintaining said lids and said bag-supporting members at closed positions wherein said maintaining means is disposed about a partial perimeter of said housing; wherein said maintaining means comprises a plurality of lip portions secured to said housing and extending upwardly therefrom, said lip portions being oppositely spaced from said divider member and extending substantially parallel thereto, each said lip portion having a generally L-shape and including a protrusion integrally disposed along a length thereof, said protrusions partially extending into the arcuate paths of said bag-support members so that a frictional force can be generated therebetween and hold the trash bags at operating positions, said divider member including a plurality of protrusions extending along a length thereof for cooperating with said lip protrusions and to support the trash bags at stable positions, wherein respective top edges of the trash bags are intercalated between said bag-supporting members and said protrusions such that said top edge of said trash bags travels beneath said bag-supporting members and over said protrusions, wherein said ton edges travel about a top perimeter of said protrusions and terminate laterally away therefrom. 8. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising: a plurality of stop members connected to said housing and disposed adjacent to said top portion, said stop members extending inwardly from a perimeter of said housing and defining a platform above which said divider member is supported, said housing further having a plurality of slots formed therein and vertically above said stop members wherein the slots are sized and shaped for mating with said divider member, said divider member having opposed end portions including integrally disposed flange portions extending outwardly and away therefrom for selectively fitting through the slots and resting on said stop members respectively so that said divider member can be maintained along the horizontal plane. 9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said lids comprise: outer edges portions and a central surface integral therewith and directly engaged with said lip portions and said lip protrusions when moved to lowered positions respectively. 10. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising: a plurality of levers attached to a top edge of said housing and extending upwardly therefrom adjacent to front end portions of said partitions respectively, said levers for assisting a user to disengage said lids and said bag-supporting members upwardly and away from said housing during operating conditions respectively.