US 11,939,153 B2
Refuse container lid opening device having drop-down tongue
Daniel L. Young, San Anselmo, CA (US)
Filed by Daniel L. Young, San Anselmo, CA (US)
Filed on Jul. 27, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/386,310.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/058,453, filed on Jul. 29, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/058,454, filed on Jul. 29, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0033180 A1, Feb. 3, 2022
Int. Cl. B65F 1/16 (2006.01); B65F 1/02 (2006.01); B65F 1/14 (2006.01)
CPC B65F 1/1623 (2013.01) [B65F 1/02 (2013.01); B65F 1/1646 (2013.01); B65F 1/1473 (2013.01); B65F 2001/1653 (2013.01)] 12 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A refuse container lid opening device having a drop-down tongue comprising:
a container body having a top rim defining a top opening to the inside of the container body, the top rim having a horizontal top surface and an outer face descending from the horizontal top surface, the top surface bounded by an inner edge and an outer edge, the top surface also including a slot disposed between the inner and outer edges thereof, the outer face including front and side faces and a bottom edge,
a lid hingedly attached to the top rim of the container body for covering the top opening, the lid having a top surface, an outer surface intersecting the top surface, and an underside, the outer surface including front and side faces,
an elongated tongue descending from the underside of the lid freely received in the slot,
a closed configuration in which the lid rests on the top rim of the container body, the outer surface of the lid is in planar alignment with the outer face of the top rim of the container body, the lid's outer surface and the top rim's outer face collectively forming a continuous uninterrupted surface that extends vertically from the top surface of the lid to the bottom edge of the outer face of the top rim of the container body and horizontally along the front and side faces of the outer surface of the lid and of the outer face of the top rim, the tongue is freely received in the slot, and the lid is upwardly movable by manipulating the tongue, and
a partly open configuration in which the tongue remains received in the slot and the lid is raised above the top rim of the top opening thereby creating a manually accessible gap between the container body and the lid that provides access to the inside of the container.