초록 ▼

A trash can for hanging and retaining standard kitchen trash bags in a sanitary and energy efficient manner. Novel trash bag support brackets are suspended spatially within the trash can to allow a user to stretch the mouth of a trash bag thereabout without touching any other surface. The trash bag

A trash can for hanging and retaining standard kitchen trash bags in a sanitary and energy efficient manner. Novel trash bag support brackets are suspended spatially within the trash can to allow a user to stretch the mouth of a trash bag thereabout without touching any other surface. The trash bag opens from the front, allowing a user to hang the trash bag without bending or stooping. Foot pedals control three different lid positions. A combination false bottom/catch pan tilts backwards to collect and contain any solid or liquid waste. An integral pedal-to-lid linkage shield affixed to the back of the false floor doubles as a handle to lift the false bottom/catch pan out from the trash can for cleaning.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A trash can, comprising: a. a left shell, a right shell, a back shell connecting the left shell to the right shell from a topmost edge to a lowermost edge, a base positioned directly beneath the left shell, the right shell and the back shell and parallel to and substantially coplanar with and flu

1. A trash can, comprising: a. a left shell, a right shell, a back shell connecting the left shell to the right shell from a topmost edge to a lowermost edge, a base positioned directly beneath the left shell, the right shell and the back shell and parallel to and substantially coplanar with and flush with the left shell, the right shell and the back shell, a front-opening door hingedly coupled to at least one of the left shell or the right shell, the front-opening door reaching from the topmost edge of the left and right shell to a topmost edge of the base, and a lid pivotally coupled to the back shell and dimensioned to cover the topmost edges of the left shell, the right shell and the front-opening door when the lid is closed;b. a left bag support track and a right bag support track mounted to a corresponding upper, inner surface of the left and right shells;c. a bag support bracket vertically slidable along the left and the right bag support tracks;d. a pivoting pedal recessed within the base;e. a thin and substantially rigid linkage connecting the pedal to the lid;f. a false bottom/catch pan resting above the base and tilting lower toward the back shell;g. a foot-operated lid-opening/stabilizing system coupled to the pedal;h. a foot-operated lid-closing damper coupled to the pedal; andi. a linkage shield extending along substantially the entire length of the linkage, concealing the linkage and wherein the linkage shield is connected to the false bottom/catch pan. 2. The trash can of claim 1, wherein the left bag support track and the right bag support track retains the bag support bracket in position by friction fit. 3. The trash can of claim 2, wherein the trash bag support bracket retains a mouth of a trash bag hung thereon open and substantially parallel to a true floor without sagging. 4. The trash can of claim 3, wherein the left bag support track and the right bag support track bear vertical motion slide stops. 5. The trash can of claim 3, wherein the bag support bracket has a partial perimeter and a height and along the partial perimeter is substantially shaped to slide just within the space defined by the upper inner left shell, the upper inner back shell and the upper inner right shell. 6. The trash can of claim 5, wherein the bag support bracket is open as it faces the front-opening door; that is, it does not have a front connecting piece. 7. The trash can of claim 1, wherein the foot-operated lid opening/stabilizing system comprises a latch coupled to the pedal. 8. The trash can of claim 1, wherein the foot-operated lid-closing damper comprises at least one rotational viscous damper. 9. The trash can of claim 1, further comprising mechanical means to secure the front-opening door in a closed position. 10. A method of hanging and retaining trash bags in a trash can, comprising the steps of: a. connecting a left shell to a back shell along a left edge of the back shell, connecting the back shell to a right shell along a right edge of the back shell, connecting a base below, parallel to, substantially coplanar to and flush with the so connected left shell, the back shell and the right shell, hingedly connecting a front-opening door to at least one front edge of the left shell or right shell, the front-opening door reaching from a topmost edge of the left shell and right shell to a topmost edge of the base, and pivotally connecting a lid to a back topmost edge of the back shell and dimensioned to cover the topmost edges of the left shell, the right shell and the front-opening door;b. mounting a left bag support track and a right bag support track to a corresponding upper, inner surface of the left shell and the right shell;c. inserting a bag support bracket to vertically slide within the left bag support track and the right bag support track;d. installing a pivoting pedal within a recess of the base;e. connecting the pedal to the lid with a thin and substantially rigid linkage;f. resting a false bottom/catch pan directly above the base, this false bottom/catch pan tilting lower toward the back shell;g. connecting a foot-operated lid opening/stabilizing system to the pedal;h. connecting a foot-operated lid closing damper to the pedal;i. concealing substantially the entire length of the linkage with a linkage shield; andj. connecting the linkage shield to the false bottom/catch pan. 11. The method of claim 10, further comprising opening the at least one front-opening door. 12. The method of claim 11, further comprising sliding the bag support bracket above the topmost edges of the left shell, the back shell, the right shell and the door. 13. The method of claim 12, further comprising stretching a mouth of a trash bag about the raised bag support bracket such that the bag hangs substantially parallel to a true floor. 14. The method of claim 10, further comprising selectively opening, stabilizing and closing the lid substantially using a foot. 15. The method of claim 10, further comprising dampening the lid closing substantially using a foot. 16. The method of claim 10, further comprising removing the false bottom/catch pan by grasping and the linkage shield then pulling the linkage shield through the front-opening door.