TRASH CAN FOOTHOLD
A receptacle is provided. The receptacle includes a hollow body having a bottom panel and sidewall extending upwardly to a rim, with a lift handle formed on the sidewall. Vertical recessed portions are formed in the sidewall extending from adjacent the rim to the bottom panel, with hand grips disposed within the vertical recessed portions below the lift handle at junctions where the bottom panel and sidewall meet. Each hand grip includes a grip recess defined by grip side walls, rear grip wall, and top wall, with grip elements positioned between the grip side walls. A stabilization foothold is disposed centrally on the bottom panel circumference between the hand grips, including a foothold recess with sloped edges located at junctions where a foothold bottom wall meets foothold side walls.
1 . A receptacle comprising:
a hollow body having a bottom panel and a sidewall extending upwardly from the bottom panel; and
a stabilization foothold disposed on a circumference of the bottom panel, the foothold including a foothold recess that projects into the sidewall, the foothold recess defined by foothold side walls, a rear foothold wall, and a foothold bottom wall having a sloped edge at a junction where the foothold bottom wall meets the foothold side walls.
2 . The receptacle of claim 1 , wherein the foothold bottom wall includes a first sloped edge and a second sloped edge, the first sloped edge located at a junction with a first foothold side wall and the second sloped edge located at a junction with a second foothold side wall.
3 . The receptacle of claim 2 , wherein the foothold bottom wall includes a reinforcing grid structure integrated therein.
4 . The receptacle of claim 3 , wherein the reinforcing grid structure includes a plurality of intersecting support ribs that distribute applied loads across a contact area of the foothold bottom wall.
5 . The receptacle of claim 4 , wherein the reinforcing grid structure includes concentrated rib zones positioned adjacent the sloped edges.
6 . The receptacle of claim 4 , wherein the plurality of intersecting support ribs include a first set of ribs extending in a first direction and a second set of ribs extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.
7 . The receptacle of claim 4 , wherein the plurality of intersecting support ribs include a first set of ribs having a curved configuration that corresponds to a curvature of the foothold sidewalls.
8 . The receptacle of claim 7 , wherein the plurality of intersecting support ribs include a second set of ribs extending substantially straight from edge regions of the foothold bottom wall toward a central region of the foothold bottom wall.
9 . The receptacle of claim 8 , wherein the first set of ribs are evenly spaced and the second set of ribs have variable spacing across the foothold bottom wall.
10 . The receptacle of claim 9 , wherein the second set of ribs include concentrated spacing adjacent the sloped edges to provide enhanced structural reinforcement at critical load transfer zones.
11 . The receptacle of claim 1 , further comprising a hand grip positioned on the circumference of the bottom panel.
12 . The receptacle of claim 11 , comprising two hand grips disposed on opposite sides of the receptacle.
13 . The receptacle of claim 12 , wherein the stabilization foothold is positioned centrally between the two hand grips on the circumference of the bottom panel.
14 . The receptacle of claim 13 , wherein the foothold bottom wall includes a reinforcing grid structure integrated therein, the reinforcing grid structure having a plurality of intersecting support ribs.
15 . The receptacle of claim 14 , wherein the plurality of intersecting support ribs includes a first set of ribs extending in a first direction and a second set of ribs extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.
16 . The receptacle of claim 14 , wherein the plurality of intersecting support ribs include a first set of ribs having a curved configuration that corresponds to a curvature of the foothold side walls and a second set of ribs extending substantially straight from edge regions of the foothold bottom wall toward a central region of the foothold bottom wall.
17 . The receptacle of claim 1 , further comprising a lift handle formed on the sidewall wherein the lift handle includes a first side support and a second side support spaced apart from the first side support.
18 . The receptacle of claim 17 , wherein the first side support includes a first outer wall and a first inner wall, the first outer wall spaced apart from the first inner wall and coupled to the sidewall of the hollow body, and wherein the second side support includes a second outer wall and a second inner wall, the second outer wall spaced apart from the second inner wall and coupled to the sidewall of the hollow body.
19 . The receptacle of claim 18 , wherein the lift handle includes a first connecting wall joining the first outer wall and the first inner wall of the first side support and a second connecting wall joining the second outer wall and the second inner wall of the second side support.
20 . The receptacle of claim 18 , wherein the lift handle includes a hand grip disposed between the first inner wall of the first side support and the second inner wall of the second side support, the hand grip including an outer facing wall, an inner facing wall, and a bottom wall forming a generally U-shaped cross-section.