Patent attributes
An apparatus that crushes beverage cans and similar containers to reduce waste volume in recycling bins comprises two (2) metal platens held when closed by a hinging mechanism that allows one (1) of the platens to be moved away from the other. The surfaces of the platens which face each other are provided with a textured or ribbed surface to prevent the object to be crushed from slipping out from between the closing platens. A first platen is mounted onto a pair of mounting brackets and a second platen is attached onto a pair of moving links. A pair of parallel operating arms is interconnected by a handle and operates the connected hinging mechanism. The hinging mechanism provides a toggle action which generates an adequate force between the platens to crush the containers. When the handle and the hinging mechanism are returned to the starting position, the opening between the platens allows the crushed object to fall out into the recycling bin.
