Apparatus with at least one replaceable element and a base with elevating means for raising the at least one receptacle element
View Patent ↗An apparatus has a base having a side that defines an interior space, and a periphery that defines an aperture above the interior space. A bowl element has a rim and is shaped to fit into the interior space such that the rim abuts the periphery. A lever mechanism has a lever, a fulcrum having an aperture, a pair of ears on opposite sides of the aperture, pins extending from each of the pair of ears into the lever for pivotally mounting the lever on the fulcrum, and an attachment element for attaching the fulcrum to the base. The lever has a proximal end adapted to abut the bowl element, and a distal end opposite the proximal end.
1. An apparatus comprising:
a base comprising at least one side that defines an interior space, the at least one side forming a periphery that defines an aperture above the interior space;
a bowl element having a rim, the bowl element being shaped to fit into the interior space of the base such that the rim abuts the periphery; and
a lever mechanism comprising:
a lever having a proximal end directly abutting the bowl element when the bowl element is in the interior space of the base, and a distal end opposite the proximal end and extending outside the at least one side of the base;
a fulcrum having an aperture for receiving the lever therethrough, the fulcrum further having a pair of ears on opposite sides of the aperture;
at least one pin extends through each of the pair of ears into the lever between the proximal and distal ends for pivotally mounting the lever on the fulcrum; and
attachment element secured directly to the at least one side of the base; the fulcrum extends directly from the attachment element;
whereby depressing the distal end of the lever raises the proximal end and ejects the bowl element from the interior space of the base.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising at least one securing pad attached to a bottom of the base.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a cavity through the at least one side of the base, the cavity being shaped and positioned to facilitate picking up the base.