Invention 2

The Devilishly Clever but Wonderfully Simple

Under-Counter, Cabinet Door, Trash Container Device

Catchy name, don’t you think?  Still, it may need to be shortened for marketing purposes - after it’s patented, goes into mass production and becomes the must-have item for every household in the world.  

The Device in our home kitchen.

It holds a week's worth of trash.

We recycle a lot.

The Necessity: convenient, one-motion access to the kitchen trash container.  If you have a trash compactor, don’t waste your time reading further.  Go watch TV, take a hike, whatever.  On second thought, continue reading: the Device is also handy in bathrooms, laundry rooms, man caves, etc.

The Invention, step by step:

1.      Go stand in front of your kitchen sink, glance down at the cabinet doors, and ask yourself, “Given the way I use the sink and adjacent counter space, on which door should I place The Devilishly Clever but Wonderfully Simple Under-Counter, Cabinet Door, Trash Container Device?”

The Device in home kitchen sans container.

2.      Measure the width of the cabinet door and the opening to determine maximum container height and width.  Determine maximum depth that container can extend inside without hitting the sink, drain line or any of the useless crap you have stashed under there. 

3.      Determine if a support bar is required for the hangars, one that can be screwed into the thicker perimeter area of the door.  Some cabinets have very thin inner panels unsuitable for screwing – unless you’re a masochist who gets off on having your legs mutilated by protruding screws.

   

The Device in our RV galley, showing support bar.

4.      Buy mirror hangers (Lowe's or Home Depot) and an appropriately-sized, rectangular trash container, one that has a u-shaped lip at the top.

5.      Hold the container where you think you want it located on the door and close the door part way to check clearance.  Dry fit the hangers near the corners.  Measure the distance between the hangers, center to center, and transfer measurement to door or support, centered.

6.      Drill pilot holes, screw mirror hangers to door or support, screw support to door.

The device in RV galley sans container.

The white dot is a stick-on felt pad bumper that keeps the container 

from banging into the cabinet door.

7.      Place trash bag in container, hang it, step back and admire your fine work!  Have your friends and family over so you can impress them with your cleverness and handyman skills.

If you just happen to forget to mention that it wasn't your idea, that's okay: I'll get over it.  I'd get over it quicker, though, if gifted with a small portrait of a prominent historical figure printed on green paper.  Both Grant and Franklin are appealing.