US3230567A - Trash and litter evacuating device for automobiles - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 25, 1966 w. A. NICKLESS TRASH AND LITTER EVACUATING DEVICE FOR AUTOMOBILES Filed Sept. 13, 1963 INVENTOR. M/fiur fl- A ia/fleas United States Patent ()flice 3,230,567 Patented Jan. 25, 1966 3,230,567 TRASH AND LITTER EVACUATING DEVICE FOR AUTOMOBILES Wilbur A. Nickless, Box 164, Stuart, Nebr. Filed Sept. 13, 1963, Ser. No. 308,888 1 Claim. (Cl. 15-313) My invention relates to an evacuating device for automobiles and which will include a receptacle for litter and trash.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device which will draw or suck litter of various types, and cigarette and ashes, etc., into a common receptacle which can be emptied when desired.

A further object of my invention is to provide an arrangement whereby the suction applied by the device can be attached to a standard vacuum cleaner type of hose so that the upholstery, etc., in the automobile can be cleaned when desired.

With these and other objects in view, my invention consists in the construction, arrangement, and combination of the various parts of my device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a generally plan view of my device with fragmentary sections,

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view of FIGURE 1 taken generally along the lines 22 of FIGURE 1,

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken along the lines 3--3 of FIGURE 2,

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged detail of the litter carrying compartment, and

FIGURE 5 is a schematic view of the electrical circuit.

My invention contemplates the provision of a substantially centrally arranged chamber to which is secured an electrically driven suction fan, to thereby draw the contents of a litter receptacle and ash trays to the same.

In describing my invention, I have used thecharacter to designate the front dashboard of an automobile, the characters 11 and 12 indicating the forward and rear ash trays, which ash trays have the covers 13 and 14 pivoted as at 15, and adapted to bear against the gaskets 16, the covers having the handles 17 attached thereto to open the same.

Communicating with the ash receptacles 11 and 12 at 17a are the hollow tubes 18 and 19 which join at 20, the tube 19 being joined at 21 to a further tube 22, the tube 22 communicating at 23 with a larger receptacle 24 having a door 25 and being pivoted at 26, the door 25 bearing against a sealing gasket 27.

The lid 25 includes a hollow neck 28 having a bayonet slot 29 therein, and the neck 28 is normally covered by means of a sealing cap 30, which cap 30 can contain an opening to provide means for the suction pressure to be obtained.

The character 31 indicates the rear seat of the automobile, the character 32 indicates the floorboard, and the character 33 indicates a forward wall.

The tube 22 communicates at 34 with a hollow receptacle indicated generally by the character 35 and having the top wall 36, end walls 37 and downwardly converging side walls 38. Pivoted at 39 is a lower wall 40 which is securely held against a gasket 41 by means of a snap device 42. Attached at 43 within the member 35 is a sloping screen 44, and attached to an end wall 37 is a fan casing 45 having the fan 46 therein, a cylindrical tube 47 communicating with the casing 45, and driving the fan or impeller 46 is an electric motor 48.

The receptacles 11 and 12 can include sloping walls 49 and the receptacle 24 will include a sloping wall 50,

this arrangement providing means whereby the material will more readily pass into the various pipes. The character 51 indicates an electric toggle switch.

The doors 13, 14 and 25 are preferably spring-urged by means of suitable torsion springs, as is the wall 40 to provide firm seating against the various gaskets.

In FIGURE 5 the character 52 designates the battery of the automobile which is connected to the circuit as shown.

The device operates in the following manner. The receptacle 24 is adapted to receive litter and trash placed therein by the occupants of the automobile, this device being especially useable to eliminate the throwing of the litter or trash on to the highway. The door 25 is opened by merely clasping the cap 30 and the litter is thrown into the receptacle 24, and the switch 51 is operated for a short time which therefore starts the motor 48 and the fan 46 whereupon the cover 25 being closed, the considerable suction applied will draw the trash or litter through the tube 22 into the receptacle 35, the screen 44 preventing entrance of the litter into the fan and the like.

It will also be noted that the tubes 18 and 19 function In the same manner to suck the contents from the receptacles 11 and 12 into the container 35, the members 11 and 12 containing the usual cigarette butts, ashes and the like, and it will thus be observed that when the switch 51 is operated, the entire system consisting of the litter compartment and the ash trays will be thoroughly cleaned and evacuated. The receptacle 35 can be emptied when desired by merely swinging the door 40 downwardly, the arrangement then being reclosed again.

The various doors 13, 14 and 25 can include any type of openings desired to insure the proper suction effect. In case it is desired to clean the upholstery in the automobile, a standard vacuum cleaner attachment 53 having the engaging portion 54 can be engaged with the bayonet slot 29, and the switch 51 is then operated for this purpose.

It will be especially understood that minor variations could be made in the hose connections and other parts without departing from the essential spirit of the invention.

It will now be noted that I have provided the advantages mentioned in the objects of my invention with further advantages being apparent.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of the parts of my invention without departing from the real spirit and purpose of my invention, and it is my intention to cover by my claim any modified forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents which may be reasonably included within their scope.

I claim as my invention:

A trash and litter evacuating device for automobiles comprising means providing a chamber for the retention of litter, means for providing suction through said chamber, a litter receptacle mounted within said automobile, a hollow tube connected between said litter receptacle and said chamber for evacuating material from said litter receptacle, said litter receptacle having a pivoted closure, said pivoted closure having conduit means thereon communicating with the interior of the receptacle and adapted selectively to receive a suction cleaner attachment or a closure cap, further tubes communicating with said chamber, said further tubes communicating with ash trays of said automobile, said suction means including an electric motor, a fan driven by said electric motor, said fan being positioned adjacently to said chamber, and communicating therewith, said chamber including a lower discharge wall pivoted to said chamber, and a screen for preventing movement of litter through said chamber, said screen to said fan.

3 being angularly inclined and being positioned adjacently 2,680,569

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 4/ 1909 Noe. 10/1911 Dillon 15-314 370,087

6/1931 Irons 15313 10/1953 Leland 20619.5

4 6/ 1954 Shearer 15--3 14 X 9/1958 Thompson 206--19.5 12/1961 Frost 20619.5 11/1962 Elswood 206-495 FOREIGN PATENTS 1/ 1907 France.

WALTER A. SCHEEL, Primary Examiner.

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