초록 ▼

Metal tableware articles are separated from trash as the trash is deposited into a trash container through a removable cover having brackets supporting a shaft of a magnetic bar assembly for rotation on a horizontal axis. The shaft is rotated from outside the cover by an axially movable rotatable pi

Metal tableware articles are separated from trash as the trash is deposited into a trash container through a removable cover having brackets supporting a shaft of a magnetic bar assembly for rotation on a horizontal axis. The shaft is rotated from outside the cover by an axially movable rotatable pin having a knob on its outer end and extending through the side wall of the cover for releasably engaging one end of the shaft. When the knob and pin are retracted axially, the bar assembly may be lowered from the cover for cleaning. The bar assembly has axially spaced magnetic plate units each having a pair of generally triangular metal plates with flat corner surfaces and with a panel of magnetic material of the same shape sandwiched between the plates. The bar assembly is spaced above the bottom surface of the cover for protection of the bar assembly.

대표청구항 ▼

1. Tableware retriever apparatus for separating metal tableware articles from trash deposited into a trash container through a top opening of a removable cover member having a side wall defining a chamber, the apparatus comprising an elongated magnetic bar assembly enclosed within the chamber of the

1. Tableware retriever apparatus for separating metal tableware articles from trash deposited into a trash container through a top opening of a removable cover member having a side wall defining a chamber, the apparatus comprising an elongated magnetic bar assembly enclosed within the chamber of the cover member and including an elongated shaft having an axis and opposite end portions,a plurality of magnetic plate units mounted on the shaft in axially spaced relation with each of the magnetic plate units including a set of parallel spaced non-circular metal plates separated by a magnetic material,a manually rotatable member having a gripping portion outside the cover member and an inner portion projecting through a side wall of the cover member,a releasable coupling connecting the inner portion of the rotatable member to one end portion of the shaft and providing for conveniently rotating the bar assembly from outside the cover member to cause trash to fall into the trash container and to expose tableware articles for removal through the top opening, andthe releasable coupling further providing for conveniently removing the bar assembly from the cover member to facilitate cleaning of the bar assembly. 2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein each of the metal plates of each magnetic plate unit is generally triangular in configuration with substantially flat corner surfaces. 3. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the releasable coupling connects one end portion of the shaft to the inner portion of the manually rotatable member in interfitting relation and provides for rotating the bar assembly in response to rotation of the rotatable member. 4. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the cover member has a bottom surface defining a bottom opening for receiving the trash container, the bar assembly is supported within the chamber for rotation with the plate units above the bottom surface of the cover member, and the releasable coupling provides for releasing an end portion of the magnetic bar assembly for removing the bar assembly through the bottom opening. 5. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the cover member has a multi-faceted outer surface formed by generally vertical and substantially flat side wall panels. 6. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the opposite end portions of the shaft of the magnetic bar assembly are supported by brackets attached to opposing inner surface portions of the cover member, and one of the brackets provides for releasing the support of the corresponding end portion of the shaft in response to axial movement of the inner portion of the rotatable member within the one bracket. 7. Apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein the one bracket supports a spring biased locking pin for the rotatable member, and the one bracket has a recess for releasing the rotatable member for axial movement to release the support of the corresponding end portion of the shaft. 8. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the elongated shaft of the magnetic bar assembly is tubular with a longitudinally extending hexagonal inner surface and a longitudinally extending flat outer surface. 9. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the magnetic material of each magnetic plate unit comprises a flat panel having substantially the same size and shape as the corresponding metal plates. 10. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the elongated shaft of the magnetic bar assembly is tubular with a longitudinally extending polyagonal inner surface, and the inner portion of the support member has a polyagonal end portion releasably engaging the inner surface of the shaft. 11. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the gripping portion of the rotatable member comprises a knob substantially larger then the shaft.