Pedal actuated waste disposal bin

Abstract

A waste disposal apparatus for containing a trash can therein includes a cabinet having a front wall, a rear wall, opposite side walls, and a base that are connected to each other to define an enclosed interior space, with the front wall defining an opening space. The apparatus also includes a swinging door having a bottom edge that is pivotably connected to the front wall, with the swinging door movable between a closed position where the swinging door blocks the opening space, and an opened position where the swinging door is pivoted away from the interior space of the cabinet. A foot pedal is pivotably connected to the base, and a link system is operationally connected to the foot pedal and the swinging door to pivot the swinging door between the closed and opened positions, while preventing the swinging door from pivoting into the interior space of the cabinet.

1 . A waste disposal apparatus for containing a trash can therein, comprising: 
 a cabinet having a front wall, a rear wall, opposite side walls, and a base that are connected to each other to define an enclosed interior space, with the front wall defining an opening space;    a swinging door having a bottom edge that is pivotably connected to the front wall, the swinging door movable between a closed position where the swinging door blocks the opening space, and an opened position where the swinging door is pivoted away from the interior space of the cabinet;    a foot pedal pivotably connected to the base; and    a link system operationally connected to the foot pedal and the swinging door to pivot the swinging door between the closed and opened positions, while preventing the swinging door from pivoting into the interior space of the cabinet.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further including a front door pivotably connected to the front wall.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further including a top panel connected to top ends of the rear wall and the side walls.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further including a plurality of wheels provided at the base.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further including a handle bar provided on the front wall.  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the link system includes: 
 a vertical link bar having a bottom end coupled to the foot pedal, and extending through an opening in the base along one of the side walls to a top end; and    a control bar having one end pivotably connected to the top end of the vertical link bar, and another end pivotably connected to the swinging door.    
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the entire control bar is at a vertical level that is higher than the top end of the vertical link bar when the swinging door is in the closed position, and the entire control bar is at a vertical level that is lower than the top end of the vertical link bar when the swinging door is in the opened position.  
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the entire control bar is at a vertical level that is higher than the bottom edge of the swinging door when the swinging door is in the opened position, and the entire control bar is at a vertical level that is lower than the bottom edge of the swinging door when the swinging door is in the closed position.  
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , further including: 
 a U-shaped bracket connected to the base;    wherein the foot pedal has at least one support leg pivotably connected to the bracket;    a horizontal link bar having one end connected to the at least one support leg; and    a connecting bar that connects the horizontal link bar and the bottom end of the vertical link bar.    
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , further including: 
 a biasing element coupled to the vertical link bar, the biasing element normally biasing the vertical link bar in a downward direction.    
   
   
       11 . A waste disposal assembly, comprising: 
 a waste disposal apparatus that includes: 
 a cabinet having a front wall, a rear wall, opposite side walls, and a base that are connected to each other to define an enclosed interior space, with the front wall defining an opening space;  
 a swinging door having a bottom edge that is pivotably connected to the front wall, the swinging door movable between a closed position where the swinging door blocks the opening space, and an opened position where the swinging door is pivoted away from the interior space of the cabinet;  
 a foot pedal pivotably connected to the base; and  
 a link system operationally connected to the foot pedal and the swinging door to pivot the swinging door between the closed and opened positions, while preventing the swinging door from pivoting into the interior space of the cabinet; and  
   a trash can having an opened top, the trash can retained inside the interior space.    
   
   
       12 . The assembly of  claim 11 , further including a front door pivotably connected to the front wall.  
   
   
       13 . The assembly of  claim 11 , further including a top panel connected to top ends of the rear wall and the side walls.  
   
   
       14 . The assembly of  claim 11 , further including a plurality of wheels provided at the base.  
   
   
       15 . The assembly of  claim 11 , further including a handle bar provided on the front wall.  
   
   
       16 . The assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the link system includes: 
 a vertical link bar having a bottom end coupled to the foot pedal, and extending through an opening in the base along one of the side walls to a top end; and    a control bar having one end pivotably connected to the top end of the vertical link bar, and another end pivotably connected to the swinging door.    
   
   
       17 . The assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the entire control bar is at a vertical level that is higher than the top end of the vertical link bar when the swinging door is in the closed position, and the entire control bar is at a vertical level that is lower than the top end of the vertical link bar when the swinging door is in the opened position.  
   
   
       18 . The assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the entire control bar is at a vertical level that is higher than the bottom edge of the swinging door when the swinging door is in the opened position, and the entire control bar is at a vertical level that is lower than the bottom edge of the swinging door when the swinging door is in the closed position.  
   
   
       19 . The assembly of  claim 16 , further including: 
 a U-shaped bracket connected to the base;    wherein the foot pedal has at least one support leg pivotably connected to the bracket;    a horizontal link bar having one end connected to the at least one support leg; and    a connecting bar that connects the horizontal link bar and the bottom end of the vertical link bar.    
   
   
       20 . The assembly of  claim 16 , further including: 
 a biasing element coupled to the vertical link bar, the biasing element normally biasing the vertical link bar in a downward direction.