Positive open receptacle

Claim 1

A refuse receptacle unit including: a receptacle having opposed sides and a bottom wall, and defining an open top refuse chamber and foot chamber therein where said foot chamber is separated from said refuse chamber and is located immediately above the bottom wall; a cover adapted to cover the open top of said refuse chamber; hinge means pivotally mounting said cover on said receptacle for pivotal movement of said cover between a closed position in which said cover closes the open top of said refuse chamber, and an open position in which the open top of said refuse chamber is not closed; and, a foot operated mechanism for operating said cover, said foot operated mechanism including a foot pedal having opposed ends within said foot chamber over said bottom wall, one end of said foot pedal pivotally mounted on said receptacle in said foot chamber at one side of said receptacle; and a transfer link pinned to the opposite end of said foot pedal adjacent that side of said receptacle opposite the side which pivotally mounts said foot pedal, said transfer link further connected to said cover so that when said foot pedal is manually depressed intermediate its opposed ends within said foot chamber and toward said bottom wall, said transfer link will cause said cover to be moved toward its open position while the manually depressing force on said foot pedal acts downwardly through said bottom wall of said receptacle to prevent tipping of said receptacle.