Spring biased canister for toilet brush or plunger

Abstract

A canister for housing a tool such as a toilet brush or plunger and the canister has a pair of walls which pivot between an open and closed position via actuation of a platform which moves vertically within the canister upon receipt or removal of the tool therefrom. An actuator is provided to actuate the walls and a bias member may retain the walls in an open position when the tool is removed from the canister.

1 . A canister comprising:
 a base;   a first wall and a second wall each hingedly attached to the base and moveable between a first and second position;   a spring activated platform mounted on the base for movement relative to the base, the platform being located at an interior portion of the canister; and   an actuator disposed between at least one of the first and second walls and the platform so that upon movement of the platform, at least one of the first and second walls is moved between the first and the second position, wherein the first and second walls are biased at all times towards the first position.   
   
   
       2 . The canister of  claim 1  wherein the platform is provided in, a first condition biased upwardly from the base and the platform is shaped to receive a tool thereon and placement of the tool on the platform causes the platform to be depressed to a second condition and to actuate at least one of the first and second walls to move from the first position to the second position. 
   
   
       3 . The canister of  claim 2  wherein upon removal of the tool, the platform is biased upward to the first condition and actuates at least one of the first and second walls to move from the second position to the first position. 
   
   
       4 . The canister of  claim 1  wherein the platform is mounted on a bias member in order to move the platform between a first condition where the platform is biased upward and elevated above the base and a second condition where the platform is depressed and disposed adjacent the base. 
   
   
       5 . The canister of  claim 1  wherein the canister includes a flange and a pivot member, the flange attached to the platform and the pivot member protruding from at least one of the first and second walls and connected to the flange so that upon movement of the platform the pivot member is displaced on the flange in order to move at least one of the first and second walls between the first and second position. 
   
   
       6 . The canister of  claim 1  wherein the base includes a cup and a spring is mounted in the cup and biases the platform. 
   
   
       7 . The canister of  claim 6  wherein the platform includes a boss on the bottom for receiving the spring so that the spring is disposed between the boss of the platform and the cup on the base. 
   
   
       8 . The canister of  claim 1  wherein the platform includes a pair of flanges disposed on each side and each flange includes a slot for receiving rods provided by each wall. 
   
   
       9 . The canister of  claim 8  wherein the canister has a central axis and the platform is biased vertically along the central axis. 
   
   
       10 . The canister of  claim 8  wherein the slots are oriented perpendicular to the central axis. 
   
   
       11 . The canister of  claim 1  wherein the actuator includes a pivot member and the pivot member includes a rod having exposed ends and each of the ends received in a slot provided by a pair of flanges. 
   
   
       12 . The canister of  claim 11  wherein the platform is generally cylindrical including a central receptacle for receiving a working end of a tool therein and the platform includes an outer wall adjacent the receptacle. 
   
   
       13 . The canister of  claim 12  wherein the outer wall includes an opening through which the pivot member is received. 
   
   
       14 . The canister of  claim 1  wherein the base includes retention member for receiving a pivot structure of each wall for pivotably mounting the wall thereto. 
   
   
       15 . The canister of  claim 1  wherein the base includes a column for receiving a tab protruding from the platform, wherein the column and tab radially align the platform to the base. 
   
   
       16 . The canister of  claim 1  wherein the first wall and second wall have generally the same arcuate shape. 
   
   
       17 . A canister comprising:
 a base;   an actuator pivotably mounted to the base;   a closer member attached to the actuator and biased in an open position via the actuator and the closer member movable away incrementally from the open position, but the actuator automatically biases the closer member back to the open position; and   a platform disposed and biased in the canister and attached to and biasing the actuator.   
   
   
       18 . The canister of  claim 17  further comprising a spring that is mounted to the base and biases the actuator. 
   
   
       19 . The canister of  claim 18  wherein the closer member is movable from the open position to a closed position and upon application of a force against the spring, the closer member remains in the closed position. 
   
   
       20 . The canister of  claim 17  wherein a platform is disposed in the canister and the actuator is attached to the platform. 
   
   
       21 . A canister comprising:
 a base;   a pair of walls hingedly connected to the base, the walls being movable between an open position and a closed position;   at least one platform located above the base and cooperating with the walls to move the walls between the open position and the closed position; and   a biasing member cooperating with the walls to bias the walls to the open position at all times.