US3178142A - Garbage can support - Google Patents

Description

April 13, 1965 w. H. KOCH 3,178,142

GARBAGE CAN SUPPORT Filed Aug. 28, 1965 INVENTOR WALTER KOCH J BY jam! m ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,178,142 GARBAGE CAN SUPPORT Walter H. Koch, 111 Forest Ave., Hempstead, N.Y. Filed Aug. 28, 1963, Ser. No. 365,035 1 Ciainr. (Cl. 248-146) This invention relates to support means for a single garbage can and more particularly to inexpensive means for maintaining the garbage can in a slightly spaced rela tion to the ground level.

A common problem to homeowners is the unsightly appearance of the area under and around the garbage can. Frequently, the garbage cans, which may be metal or plastic, having a removable lid, are placed on the ground near the side or rear of the house for most convenient usage. However, many times these are landscaped areas and the repeated replacement of the garbage can in the same spot destroys the grass, leaving a bare, brown patch.

Various crude methods of overcoming the problem have been attempted including permanent platforms of wood or concrete. Obviously, these expedients cannot satisfactorily blend in with surrounding areas and may in fact accentuate the condition by drawing attention to the area.

The prior art also includes many variations of the basic idea of supporting a plurality of garbage cans in a substantially elevated position so that small animals and rodents will not have access thereto. However, these prior devices were, in general, expensive to manufacture and cumbersome to use.

By way of contrast, the present invention is unobtrusive. It is comprised of a minimum number of parts that are inexpensive to manufacture and is assembled by relatively simple techniques. The support column may be permanently installed in the ground with no protruding parts so that it does not interfere with lawn mowing. Further, when the support column is inserted in the ground it does not detract from adjacent shrubbery. Even with a garbage can in place, there is no additional structure showing, the support being provided from underneath.

The present invention has a desirable feature of elevating the garbage can slightly so that the grass underneath is not damaged, and is not an eyesore when the garbage can is removed. The present invention firmly supports the garbage can so that is cannot inadvertently be dislodged and, in addition, supports the garbage can at such a height that there is no increased difficulty in moving it when it is full. This is a major drawback of the highly elevated structures of the prior art. Further, by supporting the garbage can only slightly elevated from the ground level, no additional attention is attracted.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a support device that will hold a garbage can slightly elevated above ground level.

Another object is to provide inexpensive means to support a garbage can, said means being relatively simple to manufacture and install.

An additional object is to provide a garbage can support having a detachable element permanently installed at ground level.

Still another object is to provide support for the garbage can from beneath the bottom surface thereof.

A further object is to provide substantially concealed support structure for a garbage can.

Another object is to provide a garbage can support structure that may readily be removed when not in use.

These and other features, objects and advantages of the invention will, in, part, be pointed out with particularity and will, in part, become obvious from the following more detailed description of the invention, taken 3,1?3,l42 Patented Apr. 13, 1965 in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, which forms an inte ral part thereof.

In the various figures of the drawing like reference characters designate like parts.

in the drawing:

FIG. 1 is an exploded pictorial view of the elements of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the present invention installed in the ground with the supported garbage can shown in phantom.

FIG. 3 is a plan view, taken along line 33 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of an alternative construction for one of the support members.

There is shown in the drawing a garbage can support rack generally designated by the reference character 10. In the preferred embodiment, the individual parts are fabricated from steel and may be provided with suitable plating finishes to protect them from prolonged exposure to the elements.

Support column 12 is hollow, having a 2 inch outside diameter and a length of approximately 24 inches. Column 12 is adapted for permanent installation into the ground. As may be seen in FIG. 2, one end 14 is positioned at ground level so that upon removal of the upper structure, to be described hereinafter, there will be no protrusions to interfere with lawn mowing.

Cylindrical post member 16, which is approximately 8 inches long, fits loosely in column 12. Secured proximate one end 18 thereof is spacing means comprised of disk 20 having a central opening the same size as the post. The disk, which is A inch thick and which has an outside diameter of 6 inches, may be placed on and welded to post 16 to form a unitary structure readily removable from the support column.

It will be seen in FIG. 2 that the opposite end of post 16 extends a sufiicient distance into the bore of column 12 so that the post cannot be accidentally dislodged. However, the lit is loose enough so that there is no prob lem either with insertion or removal thereof. The spacing of the disk from the upper end of post 16 determines the depth of penetration of the post into the column and therefore the height at which the garbage can will be supported above the ground.

Welded to the upper end of post 16, and substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis thereof, is a plate 22, which is inch thick by 2 inches square. Plate 22 serves as a connection member for can support arms 24 which are welded thereto such that they extend radially in a substantially horizontal plane when the post is positioned in the column. The embodiments illustrate four such arms but, it should be understood that either more or less arms may be provided. Preferably the arms should be equally spaced from each other. Arms 24 are of such length that they are adapted to span the underside of the garbage can to provide support within the inside diameter of the downwardly depending circumferential skirt portion found on the bottom of most garbage cans of metal construction. The arms may also be dimensioned longer so that the skirt rests on the top surface thereof.

Another embodiment 26 of the present invention, illustrated in FIG. 4, is adaptable to other types of garbage cans, particularly plastic ones, which do not have a circurnferential bottom skirt. All of the components are identical, except that arms 28 are provided with upturned or vertically disposed ends 30. In this embodiment the base of the garbage can is supported in the circle defined by the end portions of the arms. It is also within the scope of the present invention to dimension arms 28 so that upturned ends 30 fall outside the skirt diameter of metal garbage cans.

Both embodiments of the invention provide inexpensive, yet effective means for elevating and supporting a garbage can so that the grass underneath is not damaged. The invention is also readily removable so that the lawn may be easily mowed without having to bypass or work around obstructions. The present invention is suitable for various types of garbage cans and the support provided is almost entirely from beneath so that there is no unsightly superstructure. The limited elevation provided the garbage can, not more than 1% inches at most, does not materially increase the ditficulty of lifting the garbage can when it is full.

There has been disclosed heretofore the best embodiments of the invention presently contempla-ted, and it is to be understood that various changes and modifications may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

A rack for supporting the base portion of a garbage can in closely spaced relation to the ground level, said rack comprising:

(a) a hollow, elongated column adapted for vertical insertion in the ground whereby one end of said column will be substantially flush with the ground level;

(b) a post member having first and second ends, said second end being removably positioned within said column, said first end being adapted to be above ground level;

(c) a first plate secured to said post nearer said first end than said second end thereof;

(d) a second plate having top and bottom surfaces,

said bottom surface being secured to said first end of said post, said second plate being in a plane transverse the longitudinal axis of said post member; and

(e) a plurality of radial arms secured to said top sur- 5 face of said second plate, said arms being rigid, substantially flat and rectangular in cross section.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Purdy 248-156 X Leininger 248-156 Bauer 108-158 Penn 248-156 Shee 47-41 Lorton 248-156 Jones 211-163 Massey 248-147 Wetzel 248-150 Wright -20 Farquharson 249-146 Rice et al. 248-150 Mokhiber 248-146 Arthur 211-71 Stout 248-156 X Erenberg et al. 211-71 Jarvis 211-173 Fisher 248-146 30 CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Primary Examiner.

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